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CBS4 Exclusive: Mother Copes With Loss Of Son By Giving To Others In Need

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The mother of a slain teen is coping with his death by holding a toy drive for Overtown children in need this holiday season.

Tranell Harris lost her son, Richard Hallman, in late March in Allapattah.

The same day the 16-year-old was shot, 10-year-old Marlon Eason was killed in Overtown, sparking outrage in the community that two young lives were taken so senselessly.

Harris is trying to heal the pain of losing her son by giving back to the community through a foundation she started in his name, the Richard Hallman Foundation.

"I know I can't stop the violence but I can try to make a change," said Harris.

Her latest project is a holiday toy drive in Richard's memory, which she hopes will bring joy to kids in the same neighborhood where her son was killed.

"I'm trying to bring a lot of positivity in the community because we need peace right now. There's so much violence that's going on in Overtown, Liberty City, Opa-locka. It's violence happening everywhere," said Harris.

Harris has been reaching out to friends, family and businesses in the area to help her reach her goal of collecting 200 toys.

While she says she knows Christmas will be a sad day for her, not having one of her four children there, the thought of the joy the toy drive will bring so many children and their families gives her strength.

"I want to be that helping hand even though I have a broken heart but I want to give from this giving heart," said Harris. "If you all would like to donate to the Richard Hallman foundation, I'll be very glad and very helpful, very pleased. I'm very grateful for whatever you have to give."

Harris plans to hand out the toys on Saturday, December 19th at Gibson Park in Overtown, where her son played sports.  So far, she has collected a couple of dozen toys.

If you'd like to help out, you can visit Richard Hallman Foundation's Go Fund Me page.

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