In the heart of Pima County, a toy drive has been launched with a community-centric twist: this year, all donations are certain to stay put, making holiday spirits bright for local kids in need. At the forefront of this initiative are three county employees, Gilbert Ybarra of the Transportation Department, alongside Ana Camarillo and Marjava Ramirez of the Community & Workforce Development Department, as reported by Pima County Newsroom. The trio is dedicated to ensuring that every child in the area has a present to unwrap this holiday season.
Rearing away from their past cooperation with Toys for Tots, this Toy Drive Committee has taken a local-centric approach. According to Ybarra's statement, "Every toy that is collected in Pima County stays here." The drive, which gathers momentum from personal experiences with hardship, involves over 51 county departments and, for the first time, the community of Ajo, ensuring that the effort spans the entirety of the county. Ajo's involvement is particularly notable as previously, their donations were redistributed outside the community.
This significant effort was kicked off by a proclamation from the Pima County Board of Supervisors designating October through December as Pima County Toy Drive Collection Months, as per Pima County. This declaration invites county employees to contribute voluntarily to the joy of the holiday season for children across the community. Ybarra will also be hosting a car show on December 8, which will include a toy collection effort, pulling together the community's generosity for the cause.
The Toy Drive is in partnership with the John Valenzuela Youth Center (JVYC) and other local entities, a crucial pivot point for reaching families living at or below the poverty line. Ramirez highlighted the community's direct benefit this year, while Camarillo gave a nod to the collective effort, stating "We couldn't have done this without the help of the Board of Supervisors, and without the participation of the entire County community," as detailed by Pima County. The Pima County Toy Drive will continue accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys at various locations across the county through December 13.
For more information on drop-off locations, one can visit the official Pima County website, where a comprehensive list of addresses and details around the toy drive can be found.
