Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceEbony Austin, the owner of Nouveau Bar & Grill, partnered with Grammy Award-winning rapper Offset to host the fifth annual winter wonderland experience and toy drive on Monday. From the Cascade skating rink in 2023 to Gateway Arena Center in 2024, the event has grown significantly, giving back items such as toys, gaming consoles, bicycles, and electronics to the Atlanta community. Ebony Austin, the owner of Nouveau Bar & Grill. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice“Ms. Ebony,” kids shouted as the entrepreneur and philanthropist went outside to greet the long line of families waiting in anticipation. With a spectacle of people dressed in Grinch and gingerbread cookie costumes following behind her, Austin handpicked families to enter the arena early. One family shared they’d been coming to the giveaway for three years. With huge smiles, they entered into a winter experience with a dancing ballerina, hot chocolate stations, and the Jonesboro High School and North Clayton High School bands welcoming them in.Over 600 people sat in the arena stands as they prepared to claim the hundreds of toys that awaited them for the holiday season. The toy drive also featured cash giveaways and free haircuts by Dante Jenkins, a barber who said he loves to give back to the community and kids.  The Jonesboro High School band, the Majestic Marching Cardinals, were in the building. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice“I believe everybody deserves to have some type of good spirit. No matter what’s going on in your life, you can come get a free haircut that can change your mood. Come get some free clothes, free toys, and everything just lightens up. So, that’s what I do it for, and I think it’s most important that people start doing it more because I want everybody to feel genuine love around the holidays.”Kia Johnson, Austin’s cousin, and Paris Oden, Austin’s friend, traveled from Chicago and Detroit to help as volunteers for the event. They said seeing the growth of the toy drive over the past five years is a “beautiful feeling.” “It’s very important right now. The economy is so bad, and there are a lot of people with needs. This is something huge that she’s doing for the community, and it’s like the kids need it. To see these kids walk away happy during this time, knowing that they may not have experienced this type of Christmas, is absolutely amazing,” Johnson said. A barber (left) was also on hand to give free haircuts. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceThe post Entrepreneur Ebony Austin partners with rapper Offset for holiday toy drive appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.