Courtesy photo.
CAMARILLO — Ventura County Fire Department, ABC 7, and Southern California firefighters are once again teaming up to bring the 27th Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive to Ventura County. Community members can bring a new, unwrapped toy or sports equipment to any VCFD fire station to be donated to local children and teens, November 11th through December 24, 2019.
Join Ventura County firefighters and ABC7 on Saturday, November 16, for a Spark of Love Toy Drive kickoff event and holiday tree lighting ceremony at The Collection.
This free event will be hosted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., located at Park View Court in front of The Annex Food Hall.
Collection sites will include all Ventura County Fire Stations, Fire Headquarters, and some local businesses. Toy donations are distributed locally by Children’s Services Auxiliary of Ventura County and other non-profits.
How to Donate:
Drop off new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment at any local fire station.
Donate to Children’s Services Auxiliary (CSA) of Ventura County via check or online donation at www.csavc.org/donate.html. All proceeds will go towards buying toys or sports equipment for local children. Those wishing to make a monetary donation, please make checks payable to CSA, tax-exempt #77-0054936.
Local businesses can request a Spark of Love collection box for their location or event. Email Crystal.Stratton@Ventura.org to coordinate.
In the last two and a half decades, Spark of Love has successfully collected more than nine and a half million toys for underserved children and teens in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura and Riverside counties. Starting in 2016, the Southern California Spark of Love toy drive partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. This nationwide program has been collecting and distributing toys since 1947.
Toy Requests
The CSA Holiday Toy Store is created in a donated storefront during the month of December. Families in the community are provided an opportunity to shop for the children free of charge. If you or someone you know would like to shop at the Toy Store, please visit the Children’s Services Auxiliary website at www.csavc.org and fill out the Toy Store Request form.
To learn more about Spark of Love, visit www.abc7.com/sparkoflove