LEXINGTON, Ky. — More than 30 Lexington children received a special Christmas surprise thanks to a local mother's fight against gun violence.

What You Need To Know

  • Alisa Hairston hosted her third annual Christmas giveback in Lexington

  • Hairston’s nonprofit, established in her son’s memory, extends resources and answers the needs of families affected by gun violence 

  • More than 30 children received gifts and winter gear 

  • Hairston lost her late son, Berkley Parks, to gun violence in 2021 at just 17 years old 

For weeks, Lexington community advocate Alisa Hairston packed several rooms in her home with everything from toys and electronics to gift cards and winter coats. It was all prepped and stored away for her third annual Christmas giveback hosted through her nonprofit, "It Does Matter — put the Guns Down," founded in honor of her late son, Berkley Parks. 

“We dealt with maybe 65 families, but they were divided because some have been impacted by gun violence and some have been impacted by being homeless," Hairston said. "But this year, we just stayed right up under our umbrella, which is gun violence.”

This Christmas was Hairston's fourth Christmas without Parks, her only child. He was killed in a 2021 shooting at just 17 years old. 

The annual Christmas giveback is one of several community events Alisa Hairston hosts through her nonprofit, "It Does Matter — put the Guns Down," in honor her late son, Berkley Parks, who died in 2021 in a shooting. (Spectrum News 1/Sabriel Metcalf)

Since then, her nonprofit, established in Parks' memory, has extended resources and answered the needs of families dealing with losses because of gun violence. Hairston said her son was someone who enjoyed helping others. 

“I think sometimes, families just go in the house and close the door because they don't want to talk about what's going on ... they didn't get justice because a lot of these, you see all these gifts," she said. "But a lot of these kids' cases are cold cases." 

Her sister, Anjolique Colegrove, said this event embraces a huge part of her nephew's values.

“My nephew, he had a really big heart," Colegrove said. "That was his main thing, is helping other people, being there for other people, whether they were good or bad.”

“What I feel that it does for Lexington is showing a family or a mother or father that's been impacted by what you can take and turn it into a positive to help other people." 

As Hairston helps families in her position, she's also sharing a billboard with a message about Parks' story ahead of legal proceedings in 2025. 

“This keeps me busy ... I'm also building a legacy for my son because I want people to never forget who he was," Hairston said.

Related Stories