Making a Difference: Crystal Holbrook

Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni distributes clothing, food, toys and other household goods near the Gilpin Resource Center in Richmond on Jan. 27.

Three-year-old London Oshinkoya (from left) and 3-year-old twins Messiah and Malkia Finley go through the toys brought by Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni near the Gilpin Resource Center in Richmond on Friday.

Making a Difference: Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni

It started out with making sure they had their health. But then Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni wanted to make sure her patients also had food, clothes and even toys.

Holbrook-Gazoni travels all across the Richmond region, providing resources to children and families in need.

Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni distributes clothing, food, toys and other household goods near the Gilpin Resource Center in Richmond on Friday. Holbrook-Gazoni is a pediatric RN in the Richmond area who has worked as a home health nurse for 15 years. After seeing her home patients lacking food, clothing and other resources, she began organizing donation drives and visiting communities throughout the region to distribute what she collects.

On Friday, she pulled up to the Calhoun Family Investment Center and unpacked her SUV that was filled to the brim with comfort food for the hungry, coats for the cold and gifts for the children who needed something to smile about — something they could call their very own.

"I always say you have to pay it forward," Holbrook-Gazoni said. "It's the best feeling."

Holbrook-Gazoni, 49, of Henrico County, was a nurse at VCU Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit for 10 years before becoming a home health nurse the past 15 years.

Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni checks in with Keshawn Oshinkoya, 12, as she distributes clothing, food, toys and other household goods near the Gilpin Resource Center in Richmond on Friday.

During her first home patient visit in Richmond, Holbrook-Gazoni was set to weigh a baby and record labs. But she discovered that the baby was in a car seat with blankets and was wearing the mother's clothes because there was no heat in the home and no family to help out.

Seeing that the mother was shaking from the cold, Holbrook-Gazoni provided her a coat and a portable heater. She was able to get the family checked into a hotel with the help of a social worker. Holbrook-Gazoni said the woman has since moved and has started her own drives in her new location.

"That just made it full circle," Holbrook-Gazoni said.

Twelve-year-old Keshawn Oshinkoya (left) and brother Ishiah, 5, play while their mother goes through the clothing, food, toys and other household goods brought by Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni near the Gilpin Resource Center in Richmond on Friday.

The experience inspired Holbrook-Gazoni to start a coat drive, which she runs every winter. Last year, she also started a nonprofit called A Greater Purpose, where she serves as a case manager. The organization provides single mothers with resources, including signing them up for classes.

One of Holbrook-Gazoni's clients is Stephanie Oshinkoya, 39, a single mother from the Gilpin Court neighborhood who came to the park with her three children on Friday.

"She's a wonderful lady," Oshinkoya said of Holbrook-Gazoni. "She helps me out a lot; every time I’m in need, she comes."

Oshinkoya said her family often has food needs at the end of each month and that her kids quickly grow out of their clothes. In addition to receiving supplies, Oshinkoya also volunteers to provide supplies to other families.

The proposed change would add an estimated $8 million into Richmond Region Tourism's budget.

Holbrook-Gazoni has received numerous donations from residents and local agencies, such as Blessing Warriors RVA. She said her packed SUV always ends up empty whenever she holds a drive.

"Half of my garage is nothing but donations, but it's a blessing," Holbrook-Gazoni said. "To see the kids, that's what makes me happy."

Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni distributes clothing, food, toys and other household goods near the Gilpin Resource Center in Richmond on Friday.

Shavonda Finley, 38, another Gilpin resident, also volunteers to help with donations. She receives assistance as a single mother of 10 kids, but also looks out for others in her community.

"I don't need coats, but I know my neighbor needs coats," Finley said. "I get home and say to them ‘here you go’ and just try to be nice."

Holbrook-Gazoni said she encourages people to pay it back like Oshinkoya, Finley and others have.

Crystal Holbrook-Gazoni (left) gets a hug from Stephanie Oshinkoya as she distributes clothing, food, toys and other household goods near the Gilpin Resource Center in Richmond on Friday. Oshinkoya has known Holbrook-Gazoni for nearly two years and said she is "God-sent."

"Most people are like ‘it's not my problem,’ and I’m like ‘oh! I could never do that,’" Holbrook-Gazoni said. "When I see people in need, I gotta stop to help."

Dianna Reece, Holbrook-Gazoni's mother, said her daughter has always provided help to those in need, and has support from friends and family with her endeavors.

"She's always been that way," Reece said. "She has a greater purpose in life to help people that are less fortunate than her."

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Mamie Eisenhower, shown here in Richmond in the 1950s, glamorized cattleya orchid corsages like no first lady before or since.

In February 1957, NAACP delegates waited to appear before a Virginia General Assembly committee that was conducting an investigation into the group's activities. The delegates (from left) were Oliver W. Hill Sr., W. Lester Banks, Thurgood Marshall, Spottswood W. Robinson III and Otto L. Tucker.

A view of the F.W. Woolworth Co. store at 509 E. Broad St. downtown in June 1950. The retailer also had stores on Hull Street and West Cary Street. In an Easter season advertisement that year, the company offered M&M candies at 49 cents per pound. (ORIGINAL CUTLINE - F. W. Woolworth Co. 509 E. Broad, T-D Mag. Camera Quix)

New York Yankee star Mickey Mantle (center) had breakfast with teammates Bill Miller (left) and Jerry Coleman at the Hotel John Marshall before the team played the Richmond Virginians on April 8, 1954, to open Parker Field. The Virginians, a new triple-A team in the International League, were managed by Luke Appling. The Yankees were led by Casey Stengel.

In October 1955, famed chef James Beard visited Thalhimer's new fine foods shop and conducted cooking demonstrations. Beard enjoyed dining on ham on Mondays, but he parted with tradition when carving Virginia's own Smithfield ham: He preferred the European method of slicing it crosswise in long, thin slices that begin near the shank end and run roughly parallel to the bone. The annual James Beard Foundation Awards will be announced today and on Monday. The foundation, formed after Beard's death in 1985, issued its first awards in 1991.

Burning of Richmond street cars 1950.

Boston Red Sox star Ted Williams works on his bat while a group of schoolboys watch his every move before the Red Sox played the New York Giants in a 1958 exhibition game at Parker Field.

In February 1952, Gene Autry performed shows at the Mosque that included singing, Native American dances, trick-roping and Autry's famous horse, Champion. Here, Autry met 7-year-old J. Harvie Wilkinson III, now a judge on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, who wore his best Western outfit for the occasion.

In September 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt, acting as the first woman delegate to the United Nations, spoke to an estimated 5,000 people at the Mosque (now Altria Theater) in Richmond. Her talk covered the work of the U.N., and she took hundreds of questions from the audience – Hloy Patsalides, a student from William and Mary, was at the microphone to ask one. Clarke M. Eichelberger (seated at center) was executive director of the American Association for the United Nations, and Alexander Hudgins (seated at right) was secretary of the Virginia group.

In May 1950, Willie Bradby (left) and Pamunkey Chief Tecumseh Deerfoot Cook checked a shad net on their reservation in King William County. The tribe had a profitable year from fishing, so it made a donation to the Richmond Memorial Hospital building fund in memory of tribe member Charles Bush, who had been killed in World War II. The chief noted that sick tribe members were treated at Richmond hospitals, so the Pamunkey wanted to help the construction effort.

In September 1954, floats in the National Tobacco Festival parade completed their promenade around City Stadium before the football game between the University of Richmond and Hampden-Sydney College. The festival ran in Richmond from 1949 to 1984 and was a top event in the city during its run. A predecessor festival was held in South Boston before World War II.

In February 1951, this window display, using Richmond Times-Dispatch and Richmond News-Leader pages for a background, was set up in a Grace Street window of Miller & Rhoads in connection with the approach of Easter and new spring finery. Addison Lewis was director of window displays at the department store for 52 years, a span in which the scenes became extremely popular.

In June 1950, gleeful children left Ginter Park School in Richmond as they were dismissed for the summer months – though they did need to return a few days later for their report cards.

In July 1952, the nation's first 24-hour peacetime air raid alert system, called Operation Skywatch, began operation. Air Force members and volunteers staffing the Richmond filter station began plotting sightings of planes as they were called in.

8/1/2015: In July 1953, Richmond homemaker G.F. Sutliff sported casual attire while shopping at a neighborhood market. The 1950s was the first decade that women began to wear shorts as more than just beach attire.

8/23/2015: In June 1950, children prepared for lessons at Brook Pool in Richmond as part of Swim for Health Week. The program, sponsored by Thalhimers and directed by city's recreation department and the YMCA, encouraged Richmonders to learn how to swim. During segregation, this was the only pool that served the city's African-American population.

In October 1955, five members of the Goldwyn Girls, who made an appearance in Richmond during the National Tobacco Festival, bid farewell to a local representative. The women were a part of a famous musical stock company, established by film producer Samuel Goldwyn, that performed in traveling shows. Several Goldwyn Girls went on to become Hollywood stars, most notably Lucille Ball.

This 1957 image shows Pratt's Castle, built as the Richmond private home of William Abbott Pratt in the 1850s. Pratt used all of his fortune to construct his castle, which was modeled after the estates of his Scottish relatives. The castle sat on the southern tip of Fourth Street on Gamble's Hill, overlooking the James River. It was demolished in the late 1950s to make way for the headquarters of what became Ethyl Corp.

In July 1950, a curb boy at Arnette's Ice Cream Co., served Beverly Page French a banana split. The ice cream shop, located on Willard Road in Henrico County, was a popular hangout for local teens.

In March 1950, four girls played jump-rope in a Richmond city park.

In April 1950, Richmond News Leader city circulation manager E.H. Collins examined one of the first papers to come off the new press. The new mechanical building for Richmond Newspapers was at Third and Franklin streets downtown, close to the company's main operations at 110 N. Fourth St.

In February 1956, "Teen Age Party," a televised music and dancing show for the younger crowd, was broadcast on Saturdays from the WRVA Theatre in downtown Richmond.

In September 1950, Sherry Gilman placed a letter in a barrel-turned-mailbox on Honaker Avenue in Richmond. The barrel was serving as a temporary mailbox for the newly developed residential area in the West End.

In May 1954, Richmonders attended a square dance at the Byrd Park tennis courts to kick off Park and Recreation Week. Other events included festivals, concerts, games and exhibits.

06-28-1950 (cutline): No Booklet of Instructions?--Mrs. Hamilton Herrmann, the garden club's president, says power mowers, like outboard mowers, have tricky temperments and wonders why hers stopped ticking.

4-2-1950: Byrd Field dedication

On April 8, 1952, the Brooklyn Dodgers stopped in Richmond for an exhibition game, and in the dugout at Mooers Field, star player Jackie Robinson caught up with Don Newcombe. The pitcher-turned-private won 20 games for the Dodgers the previous season but traded his baseball uniform for a military one: He was in basic training at Camp Pickett for two years of Army duty during the Korean War. (In the game, Duke Snider and Gil Hodges homered to lead the Dodgers to a 4-1 win over the Boston Braves.) TONING COMPLETE - Sitting inside the dugout of Mooers Field in Richmond, VA., Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson (right) talks with Don Newcombe (left), during his basic training at Fort Pickett on April 8, 1952. The Dodgers were in town for an exibition game on their way to New York from Florida spring training.

In March 1957, actor Robert Mitchum stopped in Richmond -- though not for reasons related to his role in the film "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison," which was playing at local theaters. He had visited Virginia weeks earlier to scout for movie locations, and he was returning to the state to interview promising actors with the Barter Theatre in Abingdon. (TONING COMPLETE) Robert Mitchum On Scouting Visit LB: scounting movie locations. ORG XMIT: RIC1212091901359998

In April 1952, Betsy Marrin and Doris Bolton admired the springtime blooms in the Italian Garden at Maymont Park. In May of that year, during Park and Recreation Week, Maymont opened a nature center in what had been a stone and brick stable. (TONING COMPLETE) SUMMER DAY AND SPRING BLOSSOMS DRAW THRONGS TO MAYMONT PARK Miss Betsy Marrin and Mrs. Doris Bolton in Foreground (Other Pictures on Page 23)

ON THE POLICE RANGE AT THE MOSQUE ARE POLICEWOMEN MARTHA JACKSON (left), THELMA WILKINSON, DOROTHY TYLER, MARY BERRY AND VIRGINIA GALYANO Note to LB: From the RVA News website: Since taking over ownership, the city has used the Mosque in several ways. In the 1950s, the Richmond Police used one the building's two subterranean floors as a Police Academy. The Police converted the three-lane bowling alley into a shooting range for cadets (shooting was suspended during performances to not alarm theater goers).5 VCU held their class registration at the Mosque for several years until 1984.

On Oct. 12, 1958, just before 2 p.m., a rare triple railroad crossing was organized in Richmond. Officials of the Southern, Seaboard, and Chesapeake and Ohio railroads arranged for trains to cross simultaneously -- a staging they had done previously in 1911, 1926 and 1949. The event lured local and out-of-town rail enthusiasts. (TONING COMPLETE) - Richmond's triple railroad crossing 4th time in history 3 trains lined up TD Oct 13, 1958 p 1 ORG XMIT: RIC1211061419281243

This July 1955 image shows the building, at Madison and Grace streets in Richmond, that once sat downtown and housed First Presbyterian Church. Completed in 1853 at the current site of Old City Hall, the building's outer shell was moved to Madison and Grace in the mid-1880s to make room for the city building. In 1943, the Acca Shriners, who had lost the Mosque (now Altria Theater) during the Great Depression, purchased the old church building. They used it until the mid-1950s; the building has since been torn down.

This January 1958 image shows Main Street Station downtown at a time when there was discussion about moving all passenger train traffic to Broad Street Station. Main Street Station, which opened in 1901, ultimately closed in 1975 but reopened in 2003. Future is Questionable for Main St. Station, Built at Turn of Century Seaboard, C & O Study Possible Shift of Passenger Trains to Broad St. TONING COMPLETE ORG XMIT: RIC1210072050501528

In October 1950, Virginia Randolph attended the cornerstone-laying ceremony for a $262,000 addition to the former one-room schoolhouse in Glen Allen that she started in 1892 and that was named for her. In 1949, Randolph retired at age 79 from a long career that encompassed teaching and supervising teacher training and curriculums for black schools in the Richmond area. Randolph, whose efforts focused heavily on vocational education, died in 1958. Dedication of addition to Virginia Randolph school. TONING COMPLETE ORG XMIT: RIC1312231638412269

In October 1958, National Tobacco Festival parade grand marshal James Arness (Matt Dillon from TV's "Gunsmoke") gave a kiss to that year's Tobacco Queen, Judy Ann Austin. The festival ran in Richmond from 1949 to 1984 and was a top event in the city during its run. A predecessor festival was held in South Boston before World War II. TONING COMPLETE TV star Matt Dillon [Jim Arness, Gunsmoke] Busses the Queen. Today She Returned to School in South Carolina. [Judy Ann Austin, Tobacco Queen] [Published caption] ORG XMIT: RIC1209222036287306

This December 1950 image of East Broad Street at Fifth Street in downtown Richmond shows crowds of holiday shoppers visiting such stores as Baker's, Peoples Drug, Swatty's Pants, Haverty's Furniture and Raylass Department Store. TONING COMPLETE- CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS JAM BROAD STREET SIDEWALK AS SEASON'S PEAK NEARS Most Stores Look for Record Sales Today as Yuletide Business Passes Last Year's Marks ORG XMIT: RIC1210010944492578

In May 1950, Richmond celebrated Park and Recreation Week with a series of events, including an art carnival, puppet shows and concerts. Square dancing for all ages on the Byrd Park tennis courts was a highlight of the week.

In July 1951, Office of Price Stabilization regulations were posted at the Thalhimers department store. The regulations were enacted because a surge in demand for goods after the start of the Korean War caused a rapid rise in prices. The office was closed in April 1953. Woman posting OPS regulations in Thalhimers [not used] ORG XMIT: RIC1210062103417943

In April 1952, Mrs. M.S. Jackson, one of Richmond's first full-fledged female traffic officials with full police authority, worked at Seventh and Grace streets downtown. Her duties included pedestrian education and enforcement when the "walk/don't walk" lights began operation on Broad Street, as well as car tagging and intersection assignments. FEMININE TOUCH--Mrs. T. B. Wilkinson and Mrs. M. S. Jackson [pictured here], two of the first full-fledged women traffic officials, start "orientation" at Seventh and Grace Streets. ORG XMIT: RIC1211091145181309

On Oct. 27, 1953, retired middleweight boxing champion "Sugar Ray" Robinson headlined two shows at the Mosque. Robinson turned to dancing and singing when he stopped boxing in 1952 but resumed fighting in 1955 when his entertainment career waned. During his show in Richmond, he was backed up by Count Basie's orchestra and completed no fewer than five costume changes. SUGAR 'TAKES ONE'--Sugar Ray Robinson, retired middleweight champion of the world, gags this one with Publicity Man Lee Guber before his appearance last night at Mosque. ORG XMIT: RIC1211131756543469 ORG XMIT: RIC1305301807374848

In October 1955, a U.S. mail truck navigated Broad Street downtown across from the Thalhimers and Miller & Rhoads department stores. TONING COMPLETE- FILE SIZE NOT FULL HI-RES- Broad Street, including Thalhimer's and Miller & Rhoads. ORG XMIT: RIC1306121226041921

This April 1951 image shows the Richmond skyline as seen from the south end of the Lee Bridge. The span in the foreground was a small automobile bridge to Belle Isle, mainly used by employees working on the island. The bridge was largely washed away in rains from the remnants of Hurricane Agnes in 1972, and now only the supports and a small portion on the island remain.

This February 1953 image shows the old Miller & Rhoads Corner Shop and the adjoining Woolworth's at Fifth and East Broad streets downtown, just before they were torn down. The replacement building that opened the following year still housed the two retailers but in a different configuration. FIFTH AND BROAD, LOOKING EAST AT TWO STORES THAT WILL COME DOWN ORG XMIT: RIC1210072131121632

In December 1952, Richmond's Lady Wonder indicated that a mute 6-year-old Rhode Island boy, missing for more than two months, was alive but hurt and could be found in Kansas. Lady had developed a reputation as a psychic horse (visit the From the Archives blog to read about her), and the boy's mother, who read about Lady and was desperate for help, arranged for her to field questions about the case. Tragically, the child's skull was found a year later only 1 mile from his Rhode Island school. Missing Boy Alive, Wonder Horse 'Says' Carefully, She Spells Out Word, 'Yes' [Lady Wonder] ORG XMIT: RIC1210170927175475

On Nov. 17, 1951, hundreds of dancers crowded the floor of the Winter Garden at the Hotel Richmond to mark the first anniversary of a series of Saturday night hotel dances for military members. The series, sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Parks and Richmond Hotels Inc., had its first dance on Armistice Day of 1950. TONING COMPLETE: Hundreds of dancers crowded the floor of the Winter Garden of Hotel Richmond Saturday night for the first anniversary of the beginning of a series of Saturday hotel dances for men in uniform, sponsored by the Department of Recreation and Parks and Richmond Hotels, Inc. The first dance of the series was held on Armistice Day of 1950. ORG XMIT: RIC1308061601394907

In September 1950, two girls from the Belle Bryan Day Nursery visited Miller & Rhoads in downtown Richmond to see the Dunn Bros. miniature circus – "the biggest little show on Earth," as it proclaimed itself. The 475,000-piece circus took five men 48 hours to set up on a 60-by-28 foot-table – and seven hours to break down. TONING COMPLETE: FROM SCAN FROM ORIGINAL PRINT - Two youngsters view miniature 'Big Top' with wonderment and awe. They are among 30 guests of Miller & Rhoads from Belle Bryan Day Nursery. ORG XMIT: RIC1308061654305060

On Feb. 29, 1956, the Virginia War Memorial was dedicated despite the statue "Memory" still being unfinished. The statue's head was finally placed on March 13, after which the smoothing process was completed. With the ceiling of the memorial only 2 feet above the top of the head, it was an arduous six-hour process to get the head installed. TONING COMPLETE: Still headless, 'Memory' will be completed. Figure honors Virginia women as inspiration, at the Virginia War Memorial ORG XMIT: RIC1308061734425153

In April 1951, three American Red Cross canteeners, representing three war periods, gathered for the Richmond chapter's rally marking the graduation of the first group of canteeners to be trained since World War II. Modeling the duster cap and apron worn from 1942-45 was Mrs. G.W. Rhodes (left). Mrs. Harry O. Stone (center), a member of the first Richmond canteen, wore the 1918 spring uniform. Mrs. E.W. Langford Jr. wore the attire for current volunteers in the Korean War era.

In December 1958, the Richmond area received about 7 inches of snow, creating a memorable nighttime image of the George Washington equestrian statue at Capitol Square downtown. EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF WASHINGTON DAZZLES UNDER SNOW, NIGHT LIGHTS (Weather Story, Another Picture on Page 1) TONING COMPLETE ORG XMIT: RIC1210202236444661

In April 1955, the New York Yankees beat the Richmond Virginians 17-4 in an exhibition game before a crowd of 7,000 at Parker Field. Here, Richmond pitcher Bob Habenicht (right) chatted with New York slugger Mickey Mantle during warm-ups. The Yankee starters, including Mantle, left for their hotel as soon as they were replaced. Mantle was walking along Grace Street wearing slacks and a sport jacket while the eighth inning was being played. Mickey Mantle and Bob Habenicht at Parker field. TIMES-DISPATCH FILE PHOTO. TONING COMPLETE ORG XMIT: RIC1112201833269017

Thad Green (804) 649-6023

[email protected]

@thadgreen on Twitter

This story is part of our "Making a Difference" series, which highlights the great community efforts of central Virginians.

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