Since West Side Benevolent Circle’s founding in 1890, the holiday season has always held a sacred place in our hearts. Over the years, what has always remained true is this: every child deserves to feel the magic of the holidays.

In those earliest days, members of West Side would gather to repair and refurbish donated toys and clothing by hand. Holiday dinners were carefully prepared and delivered to neighbors in need. Records show that as early as 1895, organizations like Mansfield Bank (known today as Bluestone Bank), and the Rotary Club were offering their support—and more than a century later, their generosity continues. Throughout the 1900s, local groups like the Roland Green PTA, Girl and Boy Scout Troops, The Lions, and The Elks all joined hands with West Side to ensure no child or family in Mansfield would be forgotten during the holidays.

A note from our archives in 1945 tells of a young boy who received his very first winter coat thanks to the kindness of neighbors and volunteers. By the 1950s, West Side was serving 20–30 families each year with not only toys and clothes but full holiday dinners, bringing comfort and joy during a time that can feel especially heavy for those struggling.

During this era, West Side often ended its meetings with a quote from the Journal of Living—a sentiment that still speaks to our mission today:

“Every pair of hands, every willing heart is needed today. When we take our minds off what life is giving us and begin to think about what we are giving life, we really begin to live…”

By 1955, West Side was joined in its efforts by the Town of Mansfield, whose trucks and employees began helping with the distribution of gifts and meals—a partnership that would last for over two decades. In the 1960s, Boy Scout Troop 17 added an extra touch of holiday cheer by donating Christmas trees to families. In the 1970s and ’80s, the Mansfield Fire Department, Elks, and Jaycees became instrumental in meeting the growing demand. Then, in the early 1990s, as the Gulf War Recession took its toll, over 300 children in Mansfield received holiday gifts through West Side’s outreach. Community need had never been greater—and West Side, alongside generous neighbors, rose to meet it.

In 1994, Rotary began sharing toys from their Toys for Tots drive, continuing a beautiful collaboration that carries on to this day. A 1998 program note still echoes in our hearts:

“We serve two constituencies. One is the family that has the need; the other is the family that wants to help someone. We make both happier.”