Shopping center hosts drive-thru toy drop-offs, provides space for toy storage and sanitization
OXNARD — This year marks the 28th Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive, and The Collection at RiverPark is partnering with the fire departments of Ventura County and ABC7 to help safely collect toys and distribute them to children in need.
Each year, Spark of Love brightens the holiday season for local families by providing presents for children who might otherwise have nothing to unwrap. Last year, over 60,000 toys were donated to Ventura County’s Spark of Love Toy Drive, supporting more than 6,000 local children and over 30 nonprofits. This year, due to the pandemic, donations are needed more than ever.
This is The Collection’s second year partnering with local fire departments for Spark of Love. To help the toy drive continue safely during the pandemic, The Collection will be hosting drive-thru toy drop-offs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Those who would like to donate a new, unwrapped toy should drive up to the designated drop-off location, located in The Collection’s parking lot along U.S. Highway 101.
The Collection will also be providing a space for Toy Central, where the donated toys will be sanitized and stored until they are distributed to local nonprofits. Donations of new, unwrapped toys will also be accepted at Toy Central, located at 600 Collection Blvd.
Several of the businesses at The Collection will also be collecting toys for Spark of Love, making it easy and convenient for visitors to donate as they shop. In addition, donations can be dropped off at The Collection’s Guest Services lobby, located at 2751 Park View Court.
“Every holiday season, the toys collected through Spark of Love bring so much joy to local families, and this year the need is greater than ever,” said The Collection’s Marketing Manager, Jill Almonia. “We are honored to be able to partner with this wonderful cause to make a difference for children in our community.”
To learn more about the Spark of Love Toy Drive, visit https://vcfd.org/spark-of-love-toy-drive. For more information about The Collection, go to http://www.thecollectionrp.com
About The Collection — The Collection at RiverPark is a 750,000-square-foot, open-air, specialty retail center located in the heart of West Ventura County. Inspired by the beauty of the California coast, The Collection reflects the unique atmosphere of the surrounding seaside communities and features a carefully crafted assortment of established and contemporary designer shops, distinctive dining, and signature entertainment venues. Anchors include Target, Century RiverPark 16 & XD, Levity Live Comedy Club, 24-Hour Fitness SuperSport, REI, Whole Foods Market, H&M, Ulta and The Container Store. Restaurants include Yard House, Larsen’s Grill, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar, The Cheesecake Factory, Red Robin, Panera Bread, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen, Gen Korean BBQ, Kabuki Japanese Restaurant, Los Agaves Mexican Restaurant, Luna Grill, Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana, Texas de Brazil and more. The Collection is also home to The Annex Food Hall, a 16,000-square-foot, beautifully designed, artistic, inviting food hall that celebrates the spirit of small business and local operators. For more information, visit http://www.thecollectionrp.com and follow @TheCollectionRP and @AnnexFoodHall on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About CenterCal Properties, LLC — CenterCal Properties, LLC, founded in 2004 by Fred Bruning and Jean Paul Wardy, is a full-service commercial real estate company in the business of investing, developing, leasing and managing its projects. CenterCal excels in, and is best known for, creating destinations throughout the western United States with a unique strategy of “placemaking,” which emphasizes the importance of developing spaces with a sense of community. Bruning and Wardy’s creative vision and passion for development, coupled with CenterCal’s internal expertise, are evident in the properties the company owns and operates today. In the Pacific Northwest, those include: Bridgeport Village, Nyberg Woods and Nyberg Rivers in Oregon, and The Village at Totem Lake, Valley Mall The Terminal at Ballard and The Trails at Silverdale in Washington. The Intermountain Region properties include: Mountain View Village, Station Park and Canyon Corners in Utah and The Village at Meridian and Treasure Valley Marketplace in Idaho. California is home to: The Veranda, The Collection at Riverpark, 2nd&PCH and Plaza 183. Projects currently under development include Mercantile Village in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Mountain View Village Phase 2 in Riverton, Utah. For more information on all of CenterCal’s properties, please visit www.centercal.com