Young volunteers from the American Red Cross of Santa Monica will collect toys and gifts again this year for needy children and teens as part of the annual “Spark of Love Toy Drive.” Red Cross teenagers will also help Santa Monica Firefighters distribute the toys to deserving children in Santa Monica and nearby communities.

The Red Cross of Santa Monica, KABC Channel 7, Santa Monica Firefighters and the Rotary Club of Santa Monica will collect toys through Friday, December 24. As in previous years, new unwrapped toys and sports gear can be dropped off at the Santa Monica Red Cross or any Santa Monica Fire Department station.

Countless children in Santa Monica and neighboring communities will receive new toys this holiday season. Especially needed are toys, games, books, school supplies and items appropriate for teens from the ages of 14 to 18.

Santa Monica area families in need can sign up to receive toys for their children at the Santa Monica Red Cross between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays between now and Saturday, Dec. 18 or downloading the registration from at www.redcrossofsantamonica.org.

The “Spark of Love Toy Drive” collected over 500,000 toys in the five-county area last year. The goal is to double that number this year — the eighteenth consecutive year for the drive.

Unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the Santa Monica Red Cross during regular business hours at 1450 11th Street in Santa Monica through Christmas eve. Santa Monica Fire station 121 at 1444 7th Street, Station 122 at 222 Hollister Avenue near 2nd Street, Station 123 at 1302 19th Street at Arizona Avenue and Station 125 at 2450 Ashland Avenue (south of Ocean Park Boulevard) will all take in toys, too.

Financial contributions to the Toy Drive can be made by writing a check payable to:
Spark of Love Toy Drive, c/o California Community Foundation. Checks can be mailed directly to ABC7: Attention: Teresa Samaniego, 500 Circle Seven Dr., Glendale, CA 91201. Checks can also be dropped off at the Santa Monica Red Cross. or made online at www.abc7.com or www.calfund.org