Bella Beach Toy Drive For Manhattan Beach Restaurant Workers Kids

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Manhattan Beach native Kris D'Errico just had to step in and step up to help make the holiday season more merry and bright for the children of the workers who staff restaurants in Downtown Manhattan Beach. With dining restrictions during the pandemic, restaurants have been hit hard and many of these workers have been losing work hours and income.

"We are all just trying to spread 'happy,'" said D'Errico, who owns Bella Beach Kids in Downtown Manhattan Beach and personally knows lots of the folks who work in restaurants downtown. "We have to help each other." To that end, D'Ericco has organized a toy drive for the children of the workers of the 40 some restaurants located in Downtown Manhattan Beach.

Now through Sunday, Dec. 20, 10% of sales will go toward the purchase of gifts and toys for these youngsters, ranging in age from babies to 12 years, she said. Several of the toy manufacturers she works with are donating toys to the cause, too.

"We wanted to take away some of the stress and help these families have gifts for their kids. We live in such an amazing community and we all wrap our arms around everybody and pull for one another. It's a big hug for the community. We embrace and support each other," said D'Errico.

She told Manhattan Beach Patch she feels badly for the restaurant owners who keep having to jump "through so many hoops" to operate and their staff—wait staff, kitchen staff. D'Errico has compiled a list of all the kids and their ages.

She also reflects on the woman who works at Uncle Bill's Pancake House and has known her since she was 10 years old. She thinks about the woman at Petros who had her little girl on Christmas Eve two years ago and had to leave work to have her baby. "This is where I live and it's the place that I grew up in," she noted. "Helping us [she and her staff] have something to work for and to put smiles on the kids' faces of our beloved restaurant workers is important. Big or small, we can all do our part."

Bella Beach Kids is located in Downtown Manhattan Beach at 225 Manhattan Beach Boulevard; (310) 545-9990. Donate $5 or more online on the Bella Beach website here. You may also donate in the store.