Sparky needs your help lighting up a little girl or boys world this Christmas! Simply donate a new, wrapped toy at any of the Toys-for-Tots locations in the area. 

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - After a short hiatus, our local CAL FIRE stations are back at it, helping their fellows in uniform, the United States Marines, spread Christmas cheer to children across the nation.

The Toys-for-Tots campaign was the brainchild of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks, his wife Diane the source of his inspiration, says the Toysfortots.org website.  With Diane’s prompting, the non-profit coined Toys-for-Tots was started in 1947, and in that first year, the group was able to collect 5,000 toys for needy children.

Today, 76 years later, our local CAL FIRE heroes are lending a hand and have placed drop boxes at multiple locations throughout the Richvale, Biggs, and Gridley areas.

Please consider donating new toys for boys and girls of all ages to the following drop locations and times:

Gridley:

Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce: When: Mon and Wed, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Location: 890 Hazel St.

Grocery Outlet: When: Mon - Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Location: 1550 Hwy 99.

Sav-Mor: When: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Thurs, 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Location: 525 Fairview Ave.

CAL FIRE/Gridley Fire Department Station 74: When: Anytime. Location: 47 E. Gridley Rd.

 Biggs:

Pizza Round-Up: When: Mon - Fri, 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.  2 B Street.

Pizza Roundup is also holding a raffle. For every toy donated, Pizza Roundup will give one ticket. At the end of every week, staff will draw one ticket and the winner will receive a free dinner!

 Richvale:

Richvale Café: When: Mon - Fri, 6:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Location: 5285 Midway.

 

To make a tax deductible, charitable donation online, please visit www.toysfortots.org. You may also mail donations to Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, The Cooper Center, 18251 Quanitico Gateway Dr., Triangle VA 22172-1776. For more information on the program, its history and more ways to give, please visit Toysfortots.org.

Time is short! Our local CAL FIRE men and women will help the Marines begin collecting boxes on December 12th, 2023.