Spark of Love Toy Drive taking donations at area fire stations

By Hannah FryStaff Writer

Nov. 23, 2016 3:05 PM PT

Fire agencies across Orange County are accepting new toys and sports equipment for area children as part of the annual Spark of Love Toy Drive.

In Orange County, Spark of Love combines efforts with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, the Orange County Social Services Agency’s Operation Santa Claus and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Holiday Charities program. Working together as the Orange County Toy Collaborative, the agencies collect and distribute about 200,000 toys each year to children countywide, according to a news release.

The Spark of Love campaign began in 1993 as a partnership among firefighters throughout Orange, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

People interested in donating can drop off a new, unwrapped toy or piece of sports equipment at any fire station in their city. The drive ends Dec. 24.

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Twitter: @HannahFryTCN

Hannah Fry

Hannah Fry covers breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. She most recently covered Orange County for The Times and has written extensively about criminal trials, housing, politics and government. In 2020, Fry was part of the team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of a boat fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Santa Barbara. Fry came to The Times from the Daily Pilot, where she covered coastal cities, education and crime. An Orange County native, Fry started her career as an intern at the Orange County Register.