Toys For Tots Holiday Drive

The Santa Barbara City Fire Department launched its annual holiday toy drive Monday, benefitting Toys for Tots by collecting toys and food at each of their eight fire stations and the City Fire Administration building.

Each station has collection boxes for new, unwrapped toys and food.

Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Mayor Bill Hendricks, USCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children.

The pilot program was so successful, the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign.

This year, all toys and food collected will be distributed by the Unity Shoppe.

You can drop off toys and food between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm seven days a week at any of the Santa Barbara City Fire Stations. Locations are listed below.

Station 1 @ 121 W. Carrillo St.; Station 2 @ 819 Cacique St.; Station 3 @ 415 E. Sola St.; Station 4 @ 19 N. Ontare; Station 5 @ 2505 Modoc; Station 6 @ 1802 Cliff Dr.; Station 7 @ 4211 Stanwood Dr.; Station 8 @ 40 Hartley Pl. The City Fire Administration building is located at 925 Chapala St.

Fore more information, call 564-5711.