Great Park Teams Up with Orange County Toy Collaborative

300,000 toys to be unloaded, stored and distributed to local charities

DECEMBER 7, 2009 – IRVINE, California – The Orange County Great Park is the official site location for the 2009 Orange County Toy Collaborative Toy Giveaway. The Toy Collaborative is a holiday community toy drive sponsored by organizations that combine their efforts to collect new unwrapped toys and sports equipment for underserved children. Partners include Toys for Tots, ABC 7 Spark of Love, Operation Santa Claus, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The Toy Collaborative encourages the public to bring a new unwrapped toy for distribution by local charities or volunteer to help sort and pack donated items. Toys can be brought to the Great Park Toy Collaborative warehouse located in Irvine off of Sand Canyon and Marine Way, (turn right at guard shack and follow signs to Building 360) anytime Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. now through Thursday, December 17th. Visitors to the Great Park Balloon can also drop off toys in the Great Park Visitors Center.

“The Great Park is proud to be the home of the Toy Collaborative,” said Larry Agran, Chair, Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. “The work of the Toy Collaborative community partners and volunteers will put a lot of smiles on children’s faces during very difficult economic times.”

Together, the partners expect to collect approximately 300,000 toys to distribute to Orange County children and their families who may otherwise go without this holiday season. The Orange County Toy Collaborative serves children from low-income households and families who are suffering the consequences of the current economic downturn.

“The Orange County Food Bank is pleased to be able to make space available to host this very important holiday time activity,” said Mark Lowry, Director, Orange County Food Bank, located at the Great Park. “The Great Park is truly a ‘park with a heart’.”

For more information about the Orange County Toy Collaborative or to volunteer or provide donations, please contact Dee Asivata, Toy Collaborative Coordinator at (714) 679-3738.

For more information about the Orange County Great Park, go to www.ocgp.org

Press Contact:
Jenn Starnes
Public Information Officer
Orange County Great Park Corporation
(949) 724-6574