During the holiday season, the Santa Clara County Fire Department cooperates with several agencies to help provide toys to needy children around Santa Clara and surrounding counties. Since 1984 the Campbell Community Toy Program, based at Sunnyoaks Station, has served economically disadvantaged families in the Campbell and Los Gatos areas. In addition to toys, smoke detectors and dental hygiene supplies will be in provided to families in need during the 2005 holiday season. The Campbell Community Toy Program is making a special request for books and athletic gifts. Every year we run short of these items. The department assists with the collection and distribution of toys, working with local high schools, community service agencies, and the United States Marine Corps. This program is run by Captain Gary Cocroft and FF/E/P Dwayne Drake at Sunnyoaks station.
All department fire stations are now accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys. The department also encourages donations of new books, educational, creative and sports items. The basic philosophy of the toy programs is that toys donated in a particular community stay in that community.
Contributions can be brought to all Santa Clara County Fire Department Stations. For the location of a fire station in your neighborhood click here or on the specific station listed below.
Volunteers and off-duty firefighters at Sunnyoaks station selecting from the stacks of donated toys to stuff wish-list bags, December 2002.
People who would like to donate toys, time, or money can contact one of the following agencies, depending upon what area they are located in:
In the Campbell/Los Gatos area (Los Gatos, Redwood, Winchester, Shannon, Quito, Sunnyoaks, Campbell stations and Headquarters):
The Community Toy Program works with the Campbell Chamber of Commerce, local schools and the Campbell/San Jose Lion's Club to provide for local families and children. Contributors and recipients can call the Campbell Community Toy Program Hotline number at 408.995.3092. The Hotline provides information in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
In the Los Altos area (El Monte, Los Altos and Loyola stations):
Mountain View Community Service Agency
Allison Hopkins, 650.964.4630
In the Cupertino/Saratoga area (Cupertino, Seven Springs, Monta Vista and West Valley stations):
Red Hat Gift Program
TJ Gray, 408.378.4327 ext. 103
In the Morgan Hill area (El Toro and Dunne Hill stations):
2005 toy drive activities in Morgan Hill are not yet determined.
Generally, it is the policy of the Campbell Community Toy Program to provide each child an age and gender appropriate gift pack which includes:
dental hygiene supplies;
a smoke detector;
a book, to promote reading;
a toy, something to play with by themselves;
a game, something to play with, with others;
something artistic, to promote creativity;
an athletic or sports toy, to promote exercise;
a stuffed animal (the general rule is the smaller the child, the larger the animal.)
All toys are distributed locally, and any excess is given to the US Marine Corps "Toys for Tots" program.
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