CAMARILLO, Calif. –The Fire Departments of Ventura County’s Spark of Love toy drive is doing more than helping to give children and families a brighter holiday, it’s creating needed cheer, bringing communities together and putting money back in to our local businesses. All monetary donations collected by the Ventura County Professional Firefighters Association (VCPFA) for the Spark of Love toy drive are being used to purchase toys from local businesses, helping our communities out during hard times such as these.
On Monday, December 7th at 9:00am, VCPFA President, Kevin Aguayo and Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) Fire Chief Mark Lorenzen will purchase toys and model kits for youth in need at Ventura Hobbies at 2950 Johnson Drive, Ventura. Owner Vern Morseman is a Businesses With Heart partner – a business that offers discounts and more to foster and adoptive families; families that have children served by the Spark of Love toy drive. “Our children and youth in care need community support now more than ever, as do our local businesses. Giving back to both is a wonderful tribute to the heart of Ventura County’s spirit. “remarks Businesses With Heart Program Coordinator, Jaci Johnson with the Human Services Agency.
The toy drive supports many organizations that support in need or at-risk youth working with more than 20 non-profits and agencies, including Ventura County Sheriffs Office’s Safe Passage program, the Ventura County Medical Center and the Family Justice Center.
The Fire Departments of Ventura County have teamed up with residents, businesses and organizations to ensure that the more than 9,000 children in-need will have a season to remember. This number is up from the 6,000 children and youth served last year. Spark of Love is only possible due to the on-going generosity of thousands of people in our communities across the region. Due to the pandemic, the need to wrap around our local neighbors and businesses is greater than ever.
Local businesses have been reaching out and giving support by providing collection locations, offering discounts and giving donations, including Play it Again Sports in Ventura, Tuesday Morning in Camarillo and many more. As a continuing sponsor, The Collection of Riverpark has generously donated a storefront for toy collection and distribution. Over 120 local businesses and organizations are partners with the drive, many offering toy drop off locations. To view sponsors and partners, visit www.vcfd.org/spark-of-love-sponsors/
HOW YOU CAN HELP
DONATE A TOY:
DONATE ONLINE:
Together, we can keep the Spark of Love alive for children in Ventura County this holiday season!
For media inquiries, contact Crystal Stratton with the Ventura County Fire Department at (805) 914-9213.
BACKGROUND
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. For nearly three decades, Spark of Love has successfully collected more than ten million toys for underserved children and teens in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura and Riverside counties. Toys collected in the respective counties are distributed locally.
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