The Great Venice Toy Drive & Holiday Festival presented by the Venice Neighborhood Council, Vera Davis McClendon Youth and Family Center and the City of Los Angeles kicked off on Friday, Nov. 14.
The two-part holiday event for Venice stakeholders includes a toy drive running through Dec. 18 and then, on Saturday Dec. 20, the Venice Neighborhood Council (“VNC”) and the Vera Davis McClendon Youth and Family Center (“Vera Davis”) will give the toys away to local kids, during a fun-filled day at Oakwood Recreation Center.
The VNC and Vera Davis will collect new, unwrapped, non-violent toys at various locations in Venice now through Dec. 18, 2014.
Toys can be dropped off at:
— Abbot’s Habit, 1401 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
— Oscar’s Cerveteca, 523 Rose Ave.
— Superba Food & Bread, 1900 Lincoln Blvd.
— VNC booth at the Venice Farmers’ Market (Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.), intersection of Venice Blvd. and Venice Way
— VNC’s Board meetings on Nov. 18 and Dec. 16, Westminster Elementary School, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
The toy drive will then culminate in a holiday festival to be held at Oakwood Recreation Center on Dec. 20 from 10 a.m. through 2:00 p.m.
At the festival, children up to sixteen years of age present with a parent or guardian will be able to select a toy (first come, first served).
Children will also be able to take home a book donated by the Friends of the Venice Library.
Santa will be available for photos and kids will be able to engage in arts and crafts or play on a moon bounce or in the snow. Food will be provided.
This is the fourth year that the VNC has sponsored The Great Venice Toy Drive, created in response to community concerns about the lack of a toy giveaway in the Venice area.
Mariana Aguilar, one of the toy drive’s team members, said: “Last year The Great Venice Toy Drive ensured that over 300 Venice kids not only had a toy for the holiday season, but also had a great day at Oakwood park. With the help of the Venice community, we hope to make this year’s event the best one yet.”
The Great Venice Toy Drive is still looking for volunteers. Contact thegreatvenicetoydrive@gmail.c
