Hundreds of food items and toys have been collected through the Chula Vista Elementary School District’s annual food and toy drives to help out Chula Vista families in need this holiday season.
“It reminds us that we are one community and one world… it reminds us that we are united,” CVESD Director of Communication and Community Development Anthony Millican said.
Dry and canned food items were collected at every CVESD elementary school from Nov. 4 to Nov. 21 and toys were collected from Nov. 4 to Dec. 4. Every year, CVESD partners with the Chula Vista Welfare Council and the Chula Vista Police Activities League to make the food and toy drives possible.
CVESD is no longer collecting food and toys at each elementary school, but anyone who wants to donate canned or dry food items or toys can still do so until Dec. 9. Toys can be dropped off at the CVESD office, located at 84 East J St. and food donations can be dropped off at the Beacon Family Resource Center, located at 546 G St.
“We’re so proud to be able to have our community of Chula Vista, our learning community parents, community members and students participate in this toy and food drive because it’s students helping students, families helping families,” Millican said.
According to CVESD Project Manager Melissa Minas, 208 families have been selected to receive both toys and food at a culminating event on Tuesday Dec. 17 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 680 L St. where parents can pick up a box of food items and choose toys for their children while they’re at school.
The toys will be organized by age group to make it easier for parents to find the perfect gift for their children.
Families applied to receive toy and food donations through CVESD Family Resource Centers, according to Minas. Though 208 families will receive toys and boxes of food this season, she said the ultimate goal is to pack a total of 600 boxes of food, so the majority of them can be distributed later on.
“We know families are in need all year long and so we try to ensure that we can provide support throughout the year, so the drive not only helps us now but in the future,” Minas said.
