CAMARILLO, Calif. – For the 28th year, The Fire Departments of Ventura County partnered with ABC7’s Spark of Love toy drive to assist children in need over the holiday season.
This year, tens of thousands of residents and over 150 businesses and organizations collected toys and gift cards, providing more than 15,000 children and youth with a holiday season they won’t forget.
Due to the generous giving during such a challenging year, the 2020 Holiday Toy Drive more than doubled the number of children and families provided for in 2019, helping our most vulnerable youth experience a moment of joy during the holidays. The drive benefitted more than 15,000 children through 39 non-profits, making it the most successful and largest Ventura County holiday-giving campaign in 28 years.
"Each year, tens of thousands of people throughout Ventura County go above and beyond to support charitable causes like the Spark of Love Toy Drive," said Ventura County Fire Department Chief Mark Lorenzen. “The generosity demonstrated by our community members never ceases to amaze me. Sharing hope, support and unexpected blessings with kids and families in need, especially during the holidays, is truly an honorable experience that continues to impact others all year long.”
The Fire Departments of Ventura County’s Spark of Love toy drive did more than help give children and families a brighter holiday, it brought much needed cheer, bringing communities together and putting money back in to our local economy. Monetary donations collected by the Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association for the drive are used to purchase toys from local businesses, helping our communities out during hard times such as these. In addition to donations, people worked around the clock to collect, sort and distribute tens of thousands of unwrapped toys, bikes, games and sports equipment to children and teens.
Visit www.vcfd.org/sparkoflove to learn more or contact Crystal Stratton, VCFD Program Administrator, at (805) 389-9745.
