Donation bins are now ready for the 2019 Alameda Firefighters Toy Program, which ensures all low-income Alameda families who sign up at the Alameda Food Bank receive age-appropriate holiday toys for their children up to age 12 and gift cards for their youth ages 13 to 17. Donors are encouraged to place new, unwrapped toys (please, no gun-style toys) in the boxes before final pickup on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Toys needed most include: scooters, remote-controlled cars, sports balls, board games, Legos and educational toys.               

     

Please place new, unwrapped toys in a collection box at one of the Alameda Firefighters Toy

 

Program locations listed below:

• Fire Station No. 1:

   2401 Encinal Ave.

 

• Fire Station No. 2: 

   635 Pacific Ave.

 

• Fire Station No. 3: 

  1625 Buena Vista Ave.

 

• Fire Station No. 4: 

  2595 Mecartney Rd.

 

• Alameda City Hall: 

  2263 Santa Clara Ave.

 

• Alameda Free Library: 

  1550 Oak St.

 

• Alameda Police Department: 

  1555 Oak St.

 

• Alameda Recreation & Park Dept: 

  2226 Santa Clara Ave.

 

• Alameda Municipal Power: 

  2000 Grand St.

 

• Alameda Chamber of Commerce: 

  2215-A South Shore Center

 

• Alameda Hospital 

  (Willow Street entrance)

 

• Alameda Housing Authority: 

  701 Atlantic Ave.

 

• Alameda Island Brewing Co: 

  1716 Park St.

 

• Bank of Marin:

  2208 S Shore Center, 

  805 Marina Village Pkwy.

 

• Beacon Business Bank, 

  1442 Webster St.

 

• Bladium: 800 Tower Ave.

 

• Cerda Zein Real Estate: 

  2514 Santa Clara Ave.

 

• Child Unique Montessori: 

  2226 Encinal Ave.

 

• Coffee & Tea Traders, 

  883 Island Dr. 

 

• Edward Jones Offices: 

   887 Island Dr. Suite A, 

   1430 Everett St., Suite A, 

   2412 Central Ave.,

   1504 Encinal Ave. Suite B

• Elder’s Inn: 1721 Webster St.

 

• FAAS: 1590 Fortmann Way, 

   2228A South Shore Center                                                        

 

• Kelly Lux – State Farm Insurance: 

   564 Park St.                                                                                                 

 

• Mastick Senior Center: 

   1155 Santa Clara Ave.

• McGee’s Bar & Grill: 

   1645 Park St.

 

• Park Centre Animal Hospital:    2501 Central Ave.

• Park Waters Edge Lodge: 

   801 Island Dr.

 

• Poppy Bank, Nob Hill Foods: 

   2531 Blanding Ave.

• Rising Star Montessori: 

   1421 High St.

 

• Santa’s House: 

   South Shore Center

• Starbucks: 1364 Park St., 

   2210-J South Shore Center, 

   720 Atlantic Ave., 

   2671 Blanding Ave.

 

• Toy Safari: 1410 Park St.

 

• Tucker’s Super Creamed 

    Ice Cream: 1349 Park St.

• Wine and Waffles: 1505 Park St.

 

Collection bins are also available at all Alameda Unified School District school sites and City of Alameda buildings. For a complete list of toy drop-off sites see www.alamedaca.gov/toyprogram.

 

Cash donations are also needed to purchase the $30 Target gift cards given to youth ages 13 to 17 and to purchase toys not donated in sufficient quantities to meet the need. Checks made out to Alameda Firefighters Toy Program (AFTP) can be mailed to P.O. Box 6523, Alameda, CA 94501. Donations are tax-deductible.

 

All low-income families needing toys can sign up in-person at the Alameda Food Bank during regular pantry hours now through Saturday, Dec. 14. Bring proof of Alameda residency — recent mail or rent agreement — and a photo ID for everyone in the household. Head Start families and Alameda Point Collaborative residents will have the opportunity to sign up at program sites. Toys will be distributed on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20 and 21.                                                                 

The Food Bank Pantry is located at 1900 Thau Way. Hours to sign-up to receive toys are:

This citywide program is a partnership of the Alameda firefighters, Alameda Food Bank, Alameda Red Cross Youth, Alameda Collaborative for Children, Youth and their Families, Christ Episcopal Church and other community organizations.

 

For more information, contact Jim Franz, Alameda Firefighters Toy Program Coordinator, at 913-0171 or email trumpet.jim12@gmail.com.