Venice Toy Drive Ends Thursday

Donate a new, unwrapped, non-violent toy to The Great Venice Toy Drive with the City of Los Angeles through Thursday at: Abbot's Habit, 1401 Abbot Kinney Blvd.; Bank of Venice, 80 Windward Ave.; Oscar’s Cerveteca, 523 Rose Ave.;  The Talking Stick Venice, 1411 Lincoln Blvd.; Venice Admiral Suites, 29 Navy St.; Venice Breeze Suites, 2 Breeze Ave.; and Venice Suites, 417 Ocean Front Walk.

Toys will be used in a holiday festival Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Oakwood Recreation Center. During the festival, children up to 16 years of age present with a parent or guardian will be able to select a toy on a first-come, first-served basis.

Santa will be available for photos and kids will have the opportunity to participate in arts and crafts, play on a moon bounce and in snow, and take home books donated by the Venice Abbot Kinney Branch Library. Food will be provided.

Venice Nieghborhood Council, which created the event in response to community concerns about the lack of a toy giveaway in the Venice area, is holding the toy drive for the third year.

“Last year The Great Venice Toy Drive ensured that over 350 Venice kids not only had a toy for the holiday season, but also had a great day at Oakwood park," said Mariana Aguilar, the driving force behind the toy drive and its team members. "With the help of the Venice community, we hope to make this year’s event the best one yet.”

The Great Venice Toy Drive seeks more volunteers.  Please contactVNC_ToyDrive@VeniceNC.org if you are interesting in helping.