Town's 30th annual holiday toy drive collects hundreds of toys and $19,160 in donations
The Town of Palm Beach United Way’s 30th annual holiday toy drive collected hundreds of toys and $19,160 in donations to underserved children and families throughout Palm Beach County.
The drive, which ran from Nov. 5 through Dec. 3, received donations from more than 250 individuals, families, community groups and businesses.
"It's amazing to see how many toys we collect as part of our annual drive," General Campaign Chairman Richard Rothschild said. "The holiday spirit of the Palm Beach community really shined bright this year. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of all our toy drive donors who are helping bring smiles to the faces of hundreds of children in need."
A majority of the toys were split between four United Way nonprofit partner agencies: Center for Family Services, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, HomeSafe and Milagro Center.
HomeSafe will distribute the toys to children between the ages of 1 month to 17 years old who live in communities in Palm Beach County that experience the highest incidents of domestic violence and child abuse, as identified by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. The agency will host neighborhood holiday parties Dec. 19 that will benefit more than 200 children.
“The donated toys will bring such joy to our kids,” said HomeSafe CEO Matthew Ladika. “Through the generosity of Town of Palm Beach United Way donors, HomeSafe’s children and families will have a great holiday. We are so grateful.”
Palm Beach fire stations, Field of Greens locations and the United Way office served as drop-off locations.
“We are honored to participate in the Town of Palm Beach United Way Toy Drive,” said Assistant Fire Rescue Chief Sean Baker, who’s also a trustee of the United Way. “It’s a heartwarming sight to see the fire station lobby full of toys. Service to others is what we’re all about, and it’s especially important for families in need during the holidays.”
Findlay Galleries and the Worth Avenue Association each hosted holiday parties to collect toys. First Horizon, Holcroft Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, Palm Beach Flagler Rotary Club and Arcadia Gardens also hosted collections.
The $19,160 in cash donations will be divided between the following Town of Palm Beach United Way partner agencies: Achievement Centers for Children and Families; Adopt-A-Family; Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse; American Association of Caregiving Youth; Catholic Charities; Center for Family Services; Families First; Farmworker Coordinating Council; The Glades Initiative; Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies; HomeSafe; Literacy Coalition; The Lord’s Place; Milagro Center; Opportunity Early Childhood Center; Project LIFT; Take Stock in Children; Vita Nova; and the YWCA.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Town's of Palm Beach's annual holiday toy drive nearly $20,000
