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By Kurt Eichsteadt Santa’s many helpers are wrapping up toy drives and donation campaigns to get everything to those in need by Christmas. There’s still time to help, though. Here are some ways to do that. The staff at Gazette Newspapers is collecting gift cards to be distributed through WomenShelter, a shelter and counseling agency helping victims of domestic violence. Gift cards to grocery stores or discount department stores are especially appreciated. For cards or donations totaling $25 or more, the donor will receive a set of Muppets movies from Disney. Send gift cards or donations to Gazette Newspapers, Gift Card Drive, 5225 E. Second St., Long Beach, CA 90803. In cooperation with the Salvation Army, the Reef Restaurant will once again host a Christmas Day dinner for low-income families. Santa and the Long Beach Fire Department will deliver toys and there will be entertainment. For tickets or to volunteer, call the Salvation Army at 426-7637. The Aquarium of the Pacific will host a one-day toy drive this Saturday to help the Long Beach Fire Department’s “Spark of Love” toy drive. For every new and unwrapped toy donated, the aquarium will offer a $5 discount on admission that day only. The aquarium will host the “Spark of Love” giveaway event, as well, with details to come. For more information, call 590-3100. The Long Beach IBM Users Group will collect new unwrapped toys at its December general meeting to benefit the “Spark of Love” toy drive. The meeting is at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at the International City Masonic Center, 5155 E. Pacific Coast Highway. Call 597-4273. “Holiday Bears, Bikes and Beds,” is the joint effort of the Long Beach Health Department and the Community Action Team to help needy children. They are seeking donations of new teddy bears, new bedding for twin beds, new towels, new kids’ pajamas and more. To make a tax-deductible financial contribution or donate goods, call 439-3316 or visit www.CommunityActionTeam.org. The Police Department and Marketplace Long Beach are collecting toys for the under-privileged as part of this year’s Long Beach Toy Patrol. Toys can be dropped off at Santa’s House, Ruby’s Diner, Child’s Play Toys, Trader Joe’s and D’Aversa Salon. The Marketplace is at Second Street and PCH. California State University, Long Beach, is conducting its eighth annual Toy Drive for Needy Children. Bring new, unwrapped toys to collection boxes throughout the campus, at 1250 Bellflower Blvd. Donations benefit the American Red Cross. For more information, call 985-5241. A Christmas tree at 62nd Place Peninsula Café has some special decorations — cards with gift needs from needy families contacted through Public House Nursing. Customers are urged to take a card and return with a gift for that family. The café is at 76 1/2 62nd Place on the Peninsula. The nonprofit group Help Me Help You is conducting a toy drive for sick children this Christmas. Toys will be distributed to children in Miller’s Children’s Hospital, the Jonathan Jacques Children’s Cancer Center and children in the pediatric department at St. Mary Medical Center. Large gift boxes for the drive are in the lobby of the World Trade Center. Donations can be mailed to Help Me Help You, One World Trade Center, Suite 800, Long Beach, CA 90831. For more information, call 983-8086. Seaside Printing is collecting toys for children 18 years of age and younger at its building, 1220 E. Fourth St. The toys will be distributed to Childnet Youth and Family Services, Jonathan Jacques Children’s Cancer Center, Miller Children’s Hospital and Cambodian Association of America. Toys should be wrapped and can be dropped off between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Greater Long Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross is collecting toys for its annual Holiday Project, which helps children from homeless shelters, community agency referrals and low-income families. This year, they also are helping children from families affected by Hurricane Katrina. Bring new unwrapped toys to the Red Cross between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at 3150 E. 29th St. For more information, call 595-6341, ext. 237. McKenzie Mortuary is collecting food and toys to benefit people in Southern California hospice programs. Donations may be dropped of at McKenzie’s, 3743 E. Anaheim St. Arrangements for pick-ups may be made by calling 961-9301. The Community Action Team will try to help more than 4,000 abused and neglected animals this holiday season with Operation Santa Paws. Pet-appropriate donations (food, treats, toys, cat litter, brushes, etc.) will be accepted through Dec. 22 at a number of locations around Long Beach. For a list of those locations, visit www.SantaPaws.info. Interval House of Long Beach, a shelter for abused women and their children, is asking people to donate gift cards for its clientele. The gift cards will be handed out during the holidays. To help, call Janine at 594-9492 ext. 235. The Marines are teaming up with Keller Williams Realty for this year’s Toys For Tots Drive. To participate, drop toys off at 10900 Los Alamitos Blvd. (behind Hof’s Hut) or call 626-8600 for more information.
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