Campbell Patch Mom Squad Donates Toys to EMQ (Video)

Bethany Curran and Nicole Salacain are all smiles as the several boxes containing toys they and local business owners helped collect were dropped off this week at the EMQ Families First Los Gatos Location.

"We are super excited for the turn out for our toy drive this year," Salacain says. "It just shows what great support we have from our community, especially from the local business owners. I'm just really thankful for the opportunity to help children in need." 

The two Campbell women make up the Campbell Patch Mom Squad and write weekly parently columns and various family blogs as well as keep an active local community on their Facebook Page. With the help of local business owners, the women were able to collect 260 toys for EMQ Families First.

In the downtown, Simply Smashing, Toys Toys Toys, Stripes Boutique, Rocket Fizz Campbell and Frost Cupcake Factory all housed a box in their shops and helped spread the word through their customers and vendors, both on and offline. Tiny Tots on Railway was also a heavy supporter, brining in the most loot. Campbell Parent Participation Preschool and The New Jerseys also helped the cause and collected unwrapped toys.

"We really owe a debt of gratitute to all the local businesses that helped out, especially Deb at Simply Smashing!," Curran says. "She not only got involved herself but also got her vendors and neighbors to donate too."

Along with the Campbell Patch Mom Squad, other organizations and individuals from Campbell also helped collect toys for EMQ.

The Capri Elementary School student and boy scout Austin Allen held a collection at the Campbell Winter Wonderland. The Campbell Chamber of Commerce, along with the Santa Clara County Fire Department held their annual Community Toy Drive.

"All in all, we will be helping more than 2,000 individuals this year," says Darren DeMonsi, Assistant Director of Fund Development at EMQ Families First. "This includes children, siblings and families."

The following individuals, companies and organizations are 2012 donors to EMQ:

• Austin Allen and Family
• Kris Austin and Family
• Butter Paddle Gift Shop
• CA Technologies
• Campbell Chamber of Commerce
• Campbell MOMS Group
• Campbell Patch Moms Squad
• Campbell Rotary
• Campbell Sunnyoaks Fire Department
• ChargePoint
• Jennifer Colson
• Family Giving Tree
• Finisar Inc.
• Frank, Rimerman, and Associates
• Kristin Goguen and Doan Yearling
• Green Hills Preschool
• Happy Dragon Thrift Shop
• Heffernan Insurance Brokers
• Irene Jacobson
• Meriwest Credit Union
• Fransisco Morales
• Crystal Pretel
• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
• Renesas
• San Jose Earthquakes
• Santa Clara University Athletic Department
• Lisa Swenson
• Taryn Warren
• Turning Wheels for Kids
• Unicorn Thrift Shop

Although most toy drives have concluded, DeMonsi says that residents can still help out with either a monetary donation or by donating gift cards, no larger than $25 each to Safeway and Target.

"These go to families who are food poor through the holidays," he says.

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