A gift donation box stand inside the front door at Starbucks on Honolulu Avenue in Montrose. Residents throughout the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County can help brighten a child's holiday season by donating new, unwrapped gifts and toys at select local Starbucks stores. (John McCoy/Staff Photographer)
Across the San Fernando Valley, kind souls are collecting donations of toys to give the less fortunate during the holiday season. Below is a list of locations where you can drop off your gifts.
All Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department patrol stations will accept donations of new and unwrapped toys worth at least $10 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through Dec. 24. They will be handed out to local children in need, children who attend schools adopted by their local sheriff's stations, jail or courthouse, and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving overseas. For more information, go to lasd.org or email [email protected].
Fire departments across Southern California are holding their annual Spark of Love toy drive and accepting donations of new and unwrapped toys and sporting goods before Christmas Day. Donations can also be dropped off at CVS pharmacies, the Metrolink Holiday Toy Express Train, and during the DWP Holiday Light Festival. For information, call 213-847-3816 or go to lafd.org.
Hillsides Charity has partnered with 46 Starbucks stores to collect donations of new and unwrapped toys for the children they care for. The list of stores is posted on hillsides.org, and includes 113 E. Alameda Ave. in Burbank, 114 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale, and 8349 Foothill Blvd. in Sunland. For more information, call 323-254-2274 or email [email protected] or go to hillsides.org.
Los Angles Mayor Eric Garcetti's Crisis Response Team and the Los Angeles Police Department are holding a Teddy Bear Drive to collect new stuffed animals through the end of the year, to give children who have experienced trauma or loss. Collection boxes have been placed at all LAPD stations, and the Mayor's Help Desk at Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St., as well as his field offices in Van Nuys and South L.A. Toys can also be mailed to City Hall. The complete list of donation sites is at lamayor.org.
LAPD Devonshire PALS, which stands for Police Activity League Supporters, will hold its annual toy giveaway on Saturday at 8721 Wilbur Ave., Northridge. It will give away toys for about 1,000 local children. To donate toys for the event, call 818-885-6432 or 818-882-1212.
Six Flags Magic Mountain will offer free admission to anyone bringing a new, unwrapped toy worth at least $20 to the theme park at 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, on Saturday and Dec. 15. Price tag and/or receipt should accompany the toy. Books, CDs, DVDs and video games may be donated, but will not earn a free ticket. With the help of UPS, donated toys will be delivered to thousands of children through local charities such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern California. For more information, call 661-255-4111 or go to sixflags.com.
Circus Vargas is partnering with Childhelp, a nonprofit dedicated to victims of child abuse and neglect, for the "Give the Gift of Love!" toy drive. Anyone bringing new, unwrapped toys to the Circus Vargas box office can receive $10 discount per person, per toy. Circus Vargas has performances in Burbank through Monday. For more information, call Todd Talbot at 323-465-4016 or go to circusvargas.com.
Stand-Up on the Spot with Jeremiah Watkins is having its annual charity event for Toys for Tots on Thursday at Three Clubs, 1123 Vine St., Hollywood 90038. Cover charge is a $10 toy, or $15 cash. All proceeds go to Toys for Tots. standuponthespot.com.
The Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association will collect new, unwrapped toys to be given to needy and foster children under the care of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Those who make donations at Gelson's supermarket on 4520 Van Nuys Blvd. in Sherman Oaks will get free coffee and snacks.
The North Valley Military Institute is holding its first annual Toys for Tots Drive. Cadets will accept unwrapped toys from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Saturday at Mission Hills Bowl on 10430 Sepulveda Blvd., which will hand out buy-one, get-one-free bowling coupons. YMCA will give away membership coupons. For more information, call 818-368-1557.
The annual Build-A-Bear Workshop Toys for Tots Toy Drive will take place through today. Volunteer members of the U.S. Marine Corps will be in select stores to collect the donated toys, which would be distributed to local underprivileged children.
The San Fernando Valley-based nonprofit Operation Blankets of Love will gather blankets, towels, pet beds and other comfort items for distribution to homeless animals in shelters. Donations can be dropped off at Pet People, 18040 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills; Petco branches in Northridge, Porter Ranch and Westlake Village, and other locations listed at operationblanketsoflove.com.
The San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center is holding a toy drive. New and unwrapped gifts may be dropped off at 16360 Roscoe Blvd., second floor, through Dec. 23. For more information, call 818-901-4830 or go to movinglivesforward.org.
The Wild Bunch Car Club Toy Drive and Cruise-In will be held today, from 1-5 pm, at Hamilton Guitars at 15824 Stagg St., Van Nuys, to collect new and unwrapped gifts, cash and gift cards. Proceeds go to the charity, Grandparents as Parents. grandparentsasparents.org.
Young celebrities such as Dylan Sprayberry ("Man of Steel" and "Glee") and other volunteers will wrap toys for Project Angel Food under GenerationOn's "Be a Joy Maker" effort to encourage kids and teens to give back. Project Angel Food nourishes the body and spirit of those affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. For each action a child or teen takes to help others, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots - up to $1 million worth. The event will be held today, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at LoudBox Entertainment Studio on 149 North Valley St., Burbank. givejoy.generationon.org.
The Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles and Los Angeles Press Club will have a Toys for Tots collection box for toys worth at least $20 on Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Glendale Moose Lodge, 357 W. Arden Avenue. lapressclub.org.
