The 31st Annual Beach Cities Toy Drive, an event that brings holiday cheer to underprivileged children in Los Angeles County, will be accepting drop-off donations in Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted at Hermosa Beach City Hall that day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The annual wrapping party will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Joslin Center, 1601 North Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach.
This is the first time the wrapping party has been held in Manhattan Beach since 2019, said former Hermosa Beach Mayor Sam Edgerton, who founded the event as a friendly competition to see whether Hermosa Beach or Manhattan Beach could collect the most toys. Told.
This event would not have been possible without the generosity of communities in the South Bay and beyond, Edgerton said.
“Many of the people who come to wrap toys, especially at wrapping parties, come from far away,” Edgerton said. “They come back year after year, no matter where they live. They brought their kids here when they lived in the South Bay and loved this event so much that they brought their kids to this event again. People are coming from the Valley.”
Toys can be dropped off at the bin located at Manhattan Beach City Hall throughout the week. Manhattan Beach Fire Department, 400 15th St. Los Angeles County Fire Department No. 100, 540 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. Hermosa Beach Police Department, 540 Pier Ave.
Donations will also be accepted at the Manhattan Beach Holiday Fireworks Show on Sunday, Dec. 10.
Toys will be donated to the Salvation Army, Good Shepherd Center, Harbor-UCLA Children’s Crisis Center, 1736 Family Crisis Center, Special Needs Group, Midnight Mission, Los Angeles County Toy Loan Program, South Central Family Health Center, and Toys. Donated to Four Champions.
“This is a very heart-warming charity event that really helps young children who would otherwise go without toys during the holiday season,” Edgerton said.
Hosts are encouraged to bring scissors, tape, and extra wrapping paper to the wrapping party.
For more information, visit hermosabeach.gov or email beachcitiestoydrive@gmail.com.