Firefighters Collecting Toys for Needy Kids

Thousands of children across Orange County may not have any gifts to unwrap on Christmas, so the the Newport Beach Fire Department is asking for the community's help to hopefully provide some kids with a special gift.

The Newport Beach Fire Department is in the midst of collecting donations of new and unwrapped toys, as well as sports equipment, through Dec. 24 for less fortunate children. Tara Finnigan, city spokeswoman, says the toy drive will help provide toys to about 300,000 kids who otherwise would not have a gift to unwrap on Christmas.

Last year the NBFD collected about 148,000 toys and distributed them to 298 charities which handed them out to local families.

The NBFD is part of the Orange County Toy Collaborative—a partnership of the Orange County Firefighters' Spark of Love toy drive, the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots program, Orange County Social Service Agency's Operation Santa Claus program and the St. Vincent de Paul holiday charities program—which works together to provide Christmas gifts to needy children throughout Orange County.

Drop-off Locations:

• Station #1 - Balboa Peninsula, 110 E. Balboa Boulevard

• Station #2 - Lido, 475 32nd Street

• Station #3 – Fashion Island, 868 Santa Barbara Drive

• Station #4 – Balboa Island, 124 Marine Avenue

• Station #5 – Corona del Mar, 410 Marigold

• Station #6 – Mariners, 1348 Irvine Avenue

• Station #7 – Santa Ana Heights, 20401 Acacia Street

• Station #8 – Newport Coast, 6502 Ridge Park Road

• Newport Beach Lifeguard Headquarters, 70 Newport Pier (at the base of Newport Pier, near the intersection of 21st Street & Balboa Boulevard)