The Ventura County Harbor Department and Harbor & Beach Community Alliance (HBCA) are teaming up to spread holiday cheer this season by hosting the 3rd Annual Holiday Food & Toy Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 3, 2022 at Fisherman’s Wharf.

The Holiday Food & Toy Drive will benefit Food Share of Ventura County and the Spark of Love Toy Drive, an annual effort coordinated by local fire departments which provide toys to thousands of children each year.

On the day of the event, donations will be accepted at a drop off location at Fisherman’s Wharf, located on the southwest corner of Victoria Avenue and Channel Islands Boulevard in Oxnard. No-contact, masked and gloved volunteers will be there to safely accept the donations and provide them to Food Share and the Spark of Love Toy Drive.

The goal is to raise a “boat load” of food and toys.  In addition, money donations to Food Share will be matched up to $12,000. Cash and checks may be written to “Food Share of Ventura County” and dropped off on December 3rd. Donations can also be made online by visiting: www.foodshare.com/harbor

Items Needed

The drive will include both food and toy donations to double the spirit of the holidays.

According to Food Share, the top five most needed food items are: canned tuna, chicken, and salmon; cereal (non-sugar types); beans (dry and canned); rice (in 1lb-2lb bags or mixes; and peanut butter, but all non-perishable food items are welcome.

If you want to donate toys, bring new, unwrapped toys and/or sports equipment which will “spark” happiness during the holidays.

Editor’s Note: this event was published on Sept. 13, 2022.