SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The COVID-Safe Last Chance Holiday Toy Drive is coming to Santa Rosa Railroad Square from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, because in a pandemic, it takes a village to get the toys and food to those in need.
In 2020, Sonoma County's nonprofits have had their traditional collections thwarted by the coronavirus. As stay-at-home orders loom, this holiday season's toy drives have been immensely challenged.
Santa Rosa firefighters could not accept toys at fire stations; Toys for Tots could not place physical collection bins in their regular spots; the Volunteer Center could not put its giving trees with hearts around the county; and the Redwood Empire Food Bank was looking for a way to help collect more food to serve the increased need.
Enter SMART Train's 5th Annual Holiday Express Toy & Food Drive. SMART had to pivot its plans for the annual toy drive, as it cannot run a holiday-decorated train with passengers dropping off gifts as in years past.
Instead, SMART stepped up to create an event at the Santa Rosa Railroad Square and SMART Station in partnership with all the major nonprofits collecting toys and food for distribution this year.
The event is designed to be COVID-safe: Everyone must wear a mask at the drop-off toy and food drive in Railroad Square, 7 Fourth St. in Santa Rosa. All are invited to make toy and food donations from their cars onto tables as volunteers stay 6 feet away from cars.
The event will feature holiday-decorated SMART train and police cars, radio personalities, holiday music, fun giveaways, candy, and free ride tickets for the SMART train.
The holiday giveaways will be delivered down through over-sized candy cane tubes — striped cardboard pipes — directly inside the vehicle: A fun, festive and fast way to make a difference in 2020.
The public is being asked to bring new, unused and unwrapped toys, games, puzzles, and stuffed animals for all age groups, from 2 through 17.
Organizers are also asking for food donation bags containing only non-perishable foods that require no refrigeration such as canned goods, boxed food, bottled or canned juices, cereal, flour, sugar, etc.
"Despite the challenges, no kid should be without a toy or family without food this holiday season," said SMART Spokesman Matt Stevens. "We may have to be physically distant this year, but our community stands together and we'll be closer than ever to help make the holidays bright for Sonoma County families and children in need."
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December 04, 2020 at 08:40AM
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SMART To Host Last Chance Sonoma County Holiday Toy Drive - Patch.com
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