Manhattan Beach Givers: Annual Beach Cities Toy Drive In Progress

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — The City of Manhattan Beach is once again participating in the 28th Annual Beach Cities Toy Drive with the City of Hermosa Beach and now accepting donations through Saturday, Dec. 19. Unwrapped new toys may be donated two locations in Hermosa Beach this year since the police and fire departments lobbies in Manhattan Beach are closed to the public due to the pandemic.

Donations should be taken to the Los Angeles County Fire Station No. 100 at 540 Pier Avenue or 24/7 to the Hermosa Beach Police Department at 540 Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach. There will be a drive-through drop-off day tomorrow [Saturday, Dec. 5] from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Hermosa Beach City Hall parking lot at 540 Pier Avenue.

Said Montgomery, who has been involved in the annual toy drive since 2005 when he first was elected to the Manhattan Beach City Council, "Even with the pandemic, we still feel an obligation to provide toys for these families that are in need. And many families are even more in need right now."

Toys, which will remain unwrapped this year when given to the kids due to COVID-19, will be given to underprivileged kids through the following programs

• The Salvation Army
• Harbor-UCLA Child Crisis Center
• 1736 Family Crisis Center
• Richstone Family Center
• Special Needs Network, Inc.
• Good Shepherd Center
• The Midnight Mission
• Los Angeles County Toy Loan Program
• South Central Family Health Center
• Toys for Champions

If you need to speak with someone about the toy drive, email beachcitiestoydrive@gmail.com or call Manhattan Beach City Council member Richard Montgomery at (310) 780-3577 or former Hermosa Beach City Council member Pete Tucker at (310) 218-7239.

The Beach Cities Toy Drive began as a friendly competition between council members in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, in 1992, to see who could collect the most toys. Usually, the event includes a one-day all-out gift wrapping party fueled by volunteers who work feverishly wrapping gifts while having fun.