Santa needs some extra elves this year
to help kids in need
By LOIS KINDLE
LOIS KINDLE FILE PHOTO
Santa, aka John O’Connor, of Duette, will be on hand from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 15 to meet with area children and hear their wishes at the South Shore Toys for Tots wrap-up party at The Alley at Southshore. The event will include free food. Admission is a new, unwrapped game or toy.
The annual South Shore Toys for Tots drive is under way and, as always, its success depends on the kindness of strangers.
Thanks to the generous hearts of the area’s residents and businesses, thousands of kids from low-income families will wake up to find a little something from Santa this year, said Ann Hathaway, accounts manager and collection coordinator for Pearson Capital, sponsor of the annual drive for the past 14 years.
“We’re anticipating another great year. The need keeps growing. We continue sponsoring the drive to ensure all kids have a merry Christmas,” said Ann Hathaway, accounts manager and collection coordinator for Pearson Capital, sponsor of the South Shore toy drive for the past 14 years.
The local effort is part of the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots drive, the largest one-day collection event in Hillsborough County.
According to figures supplied by Marine Gunnery Sgt. Travis Magofna, of the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion in Tampa, last year’s collection in Hillsborough County was “amazing.” A total of 66,623 toys and $82,731 was collected to benefit more than 19,000 children, and roughly 60 percent came from the South Shore drive.
“It’s huge for us,” Magofna said about the South Shore effort. “Without the Pearson Capital drive, we couldn’t possibly meet the demand.”
That’s truly gratifying for Don Pearson and his father Walter.
“The Marines told us last year that we had become the largest single-event collection in the state, and that’s due to the generosity of the folks in South Shore,” Don said. “My father and I are very grateful for what God has given us, so sponsoring the drive is one of the ways we give back to the community.
“My passion is children, and my father’s is the military, so helping the Marines Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive is perfect for us.”
LOIS KINDLE FILE PHOTO
Last year’s South Shore Toys for Tots collection brought in 100 boxes of toys, 100 bicycles and more than $11,000 in cash, which collectively amounted to about 60 percent of the Hillsborough County total for the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots Drive.
About 80 businesses have thus far accepted collection boxes for residents to drop off new, unwrapped toys. Others who want a box for their establishment can email Hathaway at pearsoncapital7@gmail.com to have one delivered.
The collection boxes can be picked up, if needed, by Dec. 13, or brought to the annual wrap-up party Dec. 15 at The Alley at Southshore, 10221 Big Bend Road, Riverview. The festivities will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. in The Alley Cat Restaurant.
Santa, aka John O’Connor, of Duette, will be on hand between 2 and 4 p.m. to meet with children and hear their wishes. Born for the role of the Jolly Old Soul, he’s been filling the role for the event for the past nine years.
The Pearsons and The Alley at Southshore will provide free food.
Admission to the party is one new, unwrapped toy, bike or cash donation, and everyone’s invited.
Marines from the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion will attend, help unload the returning boxes, and after the party ends, take them all to a Tampa warehouse. There they’ll be sorted and staged to be delivered to distribution sites Dec. 22.
All cash donations are used by the Marines to buy toys for children in age groups that lack enough donations, particularly for infants and toddlers through age 2 and preteens, ages 10 to 12.
The following is a partial list of drop-off locations for Toys for Tots donations:
Apollo Beach
Rachel’s Family Salon, 5473 U.S. 41 N.
Century 21 Beggins Enterprises, 6542 U.S. 41 N.
H & R Block, 151 Harbor Village Lane
Kids ’R’ Kids Learning Academy of Waterset, 6406 Covington Garden Drive
Del Webb Southshore Falls clubhouse, 5831 Cascade Falls Drive
Snap Fitness, 236 Harbor Village Lane
Gibsonton
Kids ’R’ Kids Learning Academy of Southshore, 13151 Kings Lake Drive
Oops A Daisy Flowers & Gifts, 7130 Big Bend Road
Rowdy’s Pet Resort, 13141 Kings Lake Drive
Riverview
The Alley, 10221 Big Bend Road
Riverview Mortgage, 10035 Water Works Lane
Quality Life Massage, 10015 Park Place Ave.
NV Salon, 13107 U.S. 301 S.
Ruskin
Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 First Ave. N.E.
SouthShore Chamber of Commerce, 906 U.S. 41 N.
Mango Jo’s, 2626 E. College Ave.
Beanie’s Family Sports Grill, 2002 U.S. 41 S.
Gerber Collision/Glass America, 2020 College Ave.
Harriet’s Flowers, 226 W. College Ave.
Champion Self Storage, 2809 E. College Ave.
Sun City Center
Boggs Jewelers, 4852 S.R. 674
Century 21 Beggins Realty, 701 W. Del Webb Blvd.
Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Drive
Aston Gardens, 231 Courtyards Blvd.
BRANDON
Bass Pro Shops, 10501 Palm River Road, Tampa, is also a collection site this year.
For more information or other box locations, call 813-645-6392.