An annual toy drive for underprivileged children is designed to get kids in northern New Mexico in the Christmas spirit.
“These kids we got Christmas – we literally were,” says Jyl DeHaven, a commercial real estate agent at EXIT Realty Advantage NM, who is organizing the toy promotion for the second year in a row.
Northern New Mexico Toy Drive accepts bulk toys and gift cards at donation locations throughout the region, including Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Española. The gifts are then distributed to the children through a network of partner organizations.
This year these organizations include Casa Familia; the Department of Children, Youth, and Family of New Mexico; Jemez Pueblo; Las Cumbres; Presbyterian Medical Services; Portfolio Resident Services; Santo Domingo Social Services; the indigenous center of Santa Fe; and Catholic Clinic Villa Therese.
DeHaven said organizers prefer educational gifts that encourage children’s creativity. “Art supplies, coloring books, Legos,” she said.
The toy campaign has existed for years and in the past was run by the local fire department. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, first responders were looking for others to volunteer. Fire brigades are still used as drop-off points for donations.
DeHaven said the promotion raised around $ 40,000 in cash and gifts last year that went to about 1,000 children.
Some of the organizations that receive the gifts for their children say it made a difference.
“We get a lot of used items here,” says Cara Latil, program manager at the Casa Familia shelter in Santa Fe. “It’s nice that we have brand new items that we can give to children.”
Comments are closed.