Colonel Joe Oakley of the Mt. Moriah Precinct (left) and MLGW Residential Services employees Dorothea Moody and Charles White. By Yvonne D. Nelson Alvin Crook, a Fairley High School graduate, spent part of his life growing up in East Memphis and he really believes in giving back to the community. From 10 AM until noon on Saturday, December 15, 2018, the former McFarland Warriors basketball player was helped by his mother, wife, son, and several members of his family to host a Christmas Toy Giveaway to children residing in the area of the Mt. Moriah Police Station at the McFarland Community Center. “Last year I partnered with a friend of mine, Attorney J.B. Smiley, and we held a similar event at the Gaston Community Center last year,” said Crook. “This year I decided to do a toy giveaway on my own because I felt like the kids in the Parkway Village area needed someone to look out for them.” During the event, Crook gave out 205 gifts and Staffline, a temporary employment agency, helped 42 people with jobs. “It’s getting people back to work,” said Crook. “I understand that these are not $15/hour jobs, but some income is better than no income.” In addition to Col. Joe Oakley, Lt. H. Ward, and Officers G. Moore and A. Smith, MLGW residential services representatives Dorothea Moody and Charles White attended the event. “My mom has always been a big supporter of mine,” said Crook about his mom Lisa Stewart. “When it was time for us to give out gifts, my wife Andrea and son, Alvin IV, along with my sister Tyronda Henderson and my sister-in-law Ceidra Griffin passed out the gifts. Crook is also known for his “Taking Over the Park” feeding the Alvin Crook IV and his grandmother, Lisa Stewart. community at the park event where twice a year he takes 50 care bags filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, turkey sandwiches, chips, and water to the homeless. He also participated in the 2018 Chili Cook-Off in support of LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. Crook 20
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