Young volunteers from the American Red Cross of Santa Monica will collect toys and gifts as part of the annual “Spark of Love Toy Drive” again this year for children and teenagers who might otherwise go without.

In addition to spearheading the collection, the young volunteers will help distribute the presents to children in Santa Monica and nearby communities.

The American Red Cross of Santa Monica, KABC Channel 7 and local Firefighters will collect toys through Friday, December 19th. As in previous years, new unwrapped toys and sports equipment can be dropped off at the Santa Monica Red Cross, any Santa Monica Fire Department station, CVS Pharmacies and Albertson’s markets.

Topping this year’s holiday gift list are toys, games, books, school supplies and gifts for teens.

Santa Monica area families can sign up to receive toys for their children at the Red Cross office, 1450 11th Street in Santa Monica, during weekday business hours.

“Spark of Love Toy Drive” collected over 600,000 toys in the five-county area last year. The goal is to double that number this year — the fifteenth consecutive year for the drive.