Troops collect DVDs, toys, as part of drive

The city of Newport Beach is collecting new, unwrapped toys for the families of U.S. troops this month. The toy drive is part of Operation Christmas for Our Troops, a program founded in 2004 and sponsored by the California State Legislature, the National Guard of California and the nonpartisan troop support organization Yellow Ribbon America.

Organizers also will accept donations of new or used DVDs as part of the drive.

The past three Operation Christmas campaigns collected about 100,000 toys, DVDs and gift cards for California military families.

Troops will be on hand to collect donations from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the 19th Annual Winter Wonderland event at Bonita Creek Park at University Drive and La Vida.

Donations will also be accepted in the City Clerk’s office at Newport Beach City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd., until Dec. 21.

— Brianna Bailey