Toy Contributions Double for Napa-Area "CHiPs For Kids"

More than 1,200 toys were collected at the Napa-area California Highway Patrol's annual toy drive, "CHiPs for Kids,"  CHP Officer Anna Paulson said.

"That's more than double the amount from last year," said Paulson, who was in charge of this year's program.

More than 100 bags of toys were collected over the last three weeks, she said. They will be distributed today to local nonprofits, she said.

"We were able to really reach out further to the community," Paulson said. "I cannot tell you how happy I am right now."

The drive included three weekend toy drop-off sites at Napa and American Canyon Walmart stores, plus about a dozen collection barrels at stores throughout Napa Valley and one in the city of Sonoma.

In addition to allowing collection barrels at their stores, Walmart and Napa toy stores The Loose Caboose and Toys B Ville also "went beyond" by contributing to the drive, Paulson said.

And, in a separate but related gift, a Napa community member recently donated 400 Beanie Babies stuffed toys, Paulson said.

Those will be distributed at area senior centers and convalescent homes and to children who are hospitalized.

Paulson, who is the Napa-area CHP's public information officer, said running the toy drive was a labor of love.

"I have three boys, so I love being able to reach out in the community and bless others," she said.