VIRGINIA BEACH — When Quniana Futrell was a child, her mother and father were incarcerated. She said she often experienced isolation and loneliness during the holiday season.
“It just feels like it’s just you even if you’re in a house where everyone is happy and jolly,” said Futrell. “My mind stayed racing and worried about how was my mom. Was she OK? What did she eat today? Will she remember to call me today? Is she allowed to call me today?”
That served as the inspiration for Building Resilience in Communities, Inc., a Portsmouth nonprofit she founded that helps families impacted by incarceration. For the past 11 years, the organization has held “It Takes a Village” — a Christmas toy drive for children with parents who are imprisoned.
“We want to let them know how important they are, how seen they are, and to let them know that they haven’t been forgotten,” said Futrell, who co-owns Creative Learners Academy, a Portsmouth childcare center. She has also served on the Portsmouth School Board since 2022 and wrote “Our Moms,” an easy-to-read guide for children with incarcerated parents.
Building Resilience in Communities held a “stuff the bus” toy collection event this month, inviting families through social media to sign up to receive gifts.
On Saturday morning, six vehicles, in partnership with The Mount Portsmouth, dispatched across Hampton Roads to deliver hundreds of wrapped presents to 43 children in 16 homes.
A gift tag on a remaining bag of gifts sits in the back seat of Quniana Futrell’s vehicle outside of a home in Virginia Beach on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. Futrell addresses every gift to the children from their incarcerated parent. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot)
Chiara Grant has three children — 6 years, 3 years and 6 months. Their father is incarcerated, she said. Grant heard about the opportunity to receive gifts this year from her daughter’s teacher at College Park Elementary School in Virginia Beach.
Futrell and her 16-year-old daughter, Arielle, delivered a karaoke machine, Barbie dolls, Paw Patrol toys, a stroller and other presents to Grant at her home in the Level Green neighborhood Saturday.
“They’re so considerate of people that don’t have transportation and aren’t able to get their kids many things for Christmas,” Grant said. “That’s a blessing.”
Each gift has a tag addressed to the child from their parent who is away, which Futrell believes lets them know they’re not forgotten and they’re loved.
“An ounce of hope can just carry them a long time,” she said.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
