Boca Raton Toy Drive Returns for 11th Year at Sugar Sand Park
By: Michael Demyan
As the holiday season grows closer, it is just about time to be thinking about the 11th annual Boca Raton Toy Drive, which will be happening on Sunday, Dec. 3 at Sugar Sand Park.
The event, which was first put together by Douglas Heizer and David Wilson, will have numerous free activities, food, drinks and visits with Santa Claus.
The most famous activity of the annual toy drive is a ride on the carousel, which Boca Raton’s Rotary Clubs helped construct. In appreciation of their assistance, Sugar Sand Park allows them to use the carousel once a year, so they decided to use it as an extra incentive to get people out for the toy drive, while providing some family fun entertainment.
All six Boca Raton Rotary Clubs work together to put on the event in order to gather toy donations, which go to Boca Helping Hands and the Wayne Barton Study Center. Since the toy drive’s inception, over $50,000 in toys and donations have been raised for children in Boca Raton.
The entire event is put together through volunteer work, so more volunteers are always welcome at any time before, during and after the toy drive. Some of the various volunteer opportunities include tasks such as set-up, graphic design, toy pick-up, organization and break-down.
The launch party to kick off the season will be taking place at the Clive Daniel Home on Nov. 14 from 4 – 6 p.m.
After the party, drop-off locations will be spread out across the city, increasing the opportunities for residents to show their holiday spirit by donating toys.
The toy drive partners with local businesses who show their support by becoming one of the drop-off spots. Businesses who are interested in participating can go to bocaratontoydrive.com to request a box. They can also become sponsors of the toy drive as well.
That’s not the only way businesses can get involved. Companies hosting holiday parties can ask their employees and guests to donate a toy when they attend. After the party, the toys can either be brought to the 11th annual toy drive or they can be picked up right at the office.
The toy drive event at Sugar Sand Park will last from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., with the free barbecue lunch for those who donate money or a toy.
