/ PODS
Courtesy photo.
Local moving and storage company, PODS teamed up with Ventura County’s most popular running event, the Santa to the Sea ½ Marathon and 5K, to collect unwrapped toys for the 12th annual Santa Claus Park toy giveaway taking place on Saturday, Dec. 19. On race day, the donated PODS containers served as the official “Santa’s Sleigh” and securely stored almost 4,000 toys donated during the event.
On Dec. 19, the PODS containers transported the toys to Santa Claus Park in the underserved Oxnard neighborhood of Neyland Acres. The highly visual arrival of this special PODS container delivery signaled the beginning of a morning that brings hope and happiness to the community. Local fire, police, sheriff and CHP volunteers lined Ventura Blvd to unpack the PODS containers and distribute toys to the over 300 families and children that line-up each year.
“We are honored to once again provide Santa to the Sea and the local community with moving and storage logistics to help collect, transport, and distribute toys for the 12th annual Santa Claus Park toy giveaway,” said Steve Yapp, owner of local PODS Moving and Storage. “It’s our responsibility as a community to come together and help give back to children and families in need. The local outpouring of support of the community including all of our service men and women can be seen on the children’s faces as they leave with a toy.”
The Santa Claus Park toy giveaway began in 2003 when event director Mike Barber realized the community’s need for support during the holidays was growing. He transformed the iconic Santa statue into the starting line for the annual Santa to the Sea half marathon and toy drive and it now serves as a symbol of giving in the community of Oxnard.
“PODS participation in this event has been absolutely unbelievable and we cannot begin to describe how much it means to us to have their support,” said Barber. “Their ability to provide logistics to ensure these families in need receive these toys for the holidays makes the process a seamless experience.”
About PODS: Steve Yapp is the owner of three Tri-Counties PODS franchises that serve residents and businesses in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Dedicated to the local community, Yapp’s franchises have donated hundreds of PODS containers to nonprofit and charitable organizations throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Diego and Los Angeles counties since opening their doors in 2005.
A partial list of recipients include: Boys & Girls Clubs, FOOD Share of Ventura County, Casa Pacifica, Toys 4 Tots, California Strawberry Festival, Ojai Music Festival, Relay for Life, C.H.P. Holiday Toy Drive, Salvation Army, Santa Maria Good Samaritan, Oxnard Downtown Management District, Boy Scouts of Ventura County, California Visitors Center, Simi Valley Days, the Oxnard Salsa Festival, and Catholic Charities.
PODS is a leader in the moving and storage industry providing both residential and commercial services in 46 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the UK. Founded in 1998, PODS pioneered the portable moving and storage industry now preferred by many customers’ increasingly active and mobile lifestyles. To date, the PODS network has completed more than 600,000 long-distance moves, exceeded 3 million deliveries and has more than 160,000 PODS containers in service.
For more information, go to: www.mylocalpods.com.