Newport Beach toy drive helps military families

A mound of dolls, games, a few teddy bears and a bicycle piled up in front of Newport Beach City Hall on Thursday as a half a dozen uniformed troops hobnobbed with the man of the season, Santa Claus.

The occasion was the city’s second annual toy drive for military families, and a number of city employees and people from the community turned up to donate gifts.

“We had a whole closetful of them. We had no room,” said Mary Carolan, president of the American Legion Post 291 Auxiliary. Her group collects toys every year, and this year they gave about 200 items to the city toy drive.

“I like the fact that it’s here, it’s local and we can see who it’s going to,” Carolan said.

National Guard troops parked a Humvee on the lawn for the event, and a military fire truck decorated with silver and red-and-green tinsel was parked along 32nd Street.

“We love coming out to the community [and] parades,” said Army Reserve Sgt. Todd Perez, who drives the truck. “We work for the public and we need the public’s support.”

The city will collect toys, DVDs and gift cards through Wednesday, and the items will be distributed by Yellow Ribbon America, a group that channels local efforts to help troops and their families.

Last year the national campaign collected more than 47,000 gifts, Yellow Ribbon America national chairman Brad White said. Ralphs grocery stores have donation boxes for toys, and the company has pledged $25,000, White said.

Habitat for Humanity representatives were also at Thursday’s event to drum up interest in a 27-home development planned for San Juan Capistrano that will include 14 homes for disabled combat veterans or their surviving families.

The group is looking for military families that may be eligible for the homes. For information, go to www.habitatoc.org.

Toys and DVDs can be dropped off through Wednesday in the clerk’s office at Newport Beach City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.