Children in Quail Run receive Christmas gifts from A Helping Hand Charity Outreach Inc.
On Dec. 23, a group of people spent their morning giving Christmas gifts to children living in Quail Run, a residential community located off Southwest 27th Avenue south of Ocala.
Led by Danielle Wiggins of A Helping Hand Charity Outreach Inc., the outreach was meant to bring Christmas cheer to a community that experienced tragedy earlier this year.
A Helping Hand Charity Outreach Inc. was formed in 2015 by Wiggins to assist children and families in need by providing social and economic assistance services.
A Realtor and businesswoman, Wiggins has visited other neighborhoods in an effort to bring Christmas greetings and cheer.
The death of AJ Owens
In early June, Quail Run was the focus of national media attention. A resident, Akije "AJ" Shantrell Owens, 35, was shot and killed by a neighbor, Susan Louise Lorincz, during a dispute.
Owens had gone to Lorincz's residence to discuss how her (Owens') children had been treated. Lorincz reportedly had yelled at Owens' children, used racial slurs, and threw skates at them. Owens, who was Black, was shot by Lorincz, a white woman, through the closed front door of Lorincz's home.
Holiday greetings: 'CHRISTmas' comes to Berkeley Pointe Apartments
Lorincz, 59, said the shooting was self-defense. She was arrested several days after the shooting and charged with manslaughter with a firearm and one count of assault. If convicted, she could face 30 years in prison. Lorincz is presently being held at the Marion County Jail awaiting trial.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Local group gives Quail Run children Christmas presents
