Ventura County Fire has teamed up with ABC 7 and Southern California firefighters to support the 26th Annual Spark of Love Toy Drive.
Now through Christmas Eve, bring a new, unwrapped toy or sports equipment to any VCFD fire station to be donated to local children and teens.
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.
The Ventura County Fire Department will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for deserving families within our community. The Spark of Love Toy Drive will run from November 17 to December 24, 2018. Collection sites will include all Ventura County Fire Stations, Fire Headquarters, and some local businesses. All toy donations are distributed locally by Children’s Services Auxiliary of Ventura County.
How to Donate:
- Drop off new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment at any local fire station.
- Donate to Children’s Services Auxiliary 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.
Spark of Love ‘Day of Giving’ Collection Event
Ventura County Fire Department will be collecting toys for the Spark of Love toy drive at the Walmart on Saturday, November 17th from 10:00 am-4:00 pm, located at 255 Cochran Street, in Simi Valley. Ventura City Fire and Oxnard City Fire will also host kick-off events at their local Walmart Stores on the same day.
About the Spark of Love Toy Drive
The CSA Holiday Toy Store is created in a donated storefront during the month of December. Foster parents, guardians, birth parents, group homes, and disadvantaged families in the community are provided an opportunity to shop for the children free of charge. Invitations, or “vouchers” to shop are distributed through organizations listed on the website. Please visit the Children’s Services Auxiliary website at www.csavc.org/toystorerequest.html for a list of organizations that we partner with to distribute the toys. If you do not belong to an organization or group listed and you would like to shop, please fill out the Toy Store Request form on the website. To learn more about Spark of Love, visit abc7.com/sparkoflove
Toy Requests
The Spark of Love is a partnership between ABC7 and fire departments across southern California. Over the past years, the Spark of Love Toy Drive has successfully collected more than ten million toys for underserved children and teens. The “Spark of Love Toy Drive” takes place in November and December every year. With love and support of donors and sponsors, kids across Southern California receive a new toy each holiday season.
For Displaced Woolsey & Hill Fire Families:
Ventura County Behavioral Health will issue vouchers to families affected by the Woolsey & Hill Fires. If you or anyone you know is in need of assistance and have toy requests, please call Mary, Heather, or Angela at (805) 981-8460.
Media Contact: Captain Stan Zeigler (805) 389-9736.
