San Francisco toy drive surpasses goal with 15,000 donations
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Like every Christmas Eve, Lefty O'Doul's in San Francisco collected and gave out presents for kids living in underserved communities. The owner of the restaurant and sports bar has said that no kid in San Francisco should ever wake up on Christmas morning without a gift.
The Santa at Lefty O'Doul's has a small army of elves who volunteer every year on Christmas Eve. Their job is to collect Christmas toys from people who drive or drop by the well-known restaurant to bring gifts.
The goal this year was to collect 10,000 toys and by 9 p.m.on Wednesday - and they surpassed it collecting 15,000.
"You know, Christmas has become very commercial and this really brings back the spirit of Christmas which is about helping others," Joann Young, who donated toys, said.
"The spirit of Christmas comes alive and that's about giving, so they start giving and we start distributing. So it's a big distribution center," Lefty O'Doul's owner Nick Bovis said.
VIDEO: Last-minute holiday toy drives underway in Bay Area
After sorting them out, the gifts were put inside barrels and then delivered to communities in need. Earlier on Wednesday, ABC7 News went with Santa to drop off toys for kids at the Allen Chapel A.M.E Church in San Francisco's Bayview District. There, more than 100 kids found out what it means to be cared for.
"I got a football and a basketball because I really like sports," Bayview resident JaBarr Harvey said.
"It's good knowing that there is somebody out there... that it's kind of like the love of Jesus, that he cares for everybody," resident Cal Ladine said.
"I really appreciate it, I'm really blessed to have the opportunity to be here," mother Rashawn Bradford said.
"This is an opportunity to say, 'Don't worry about your money, don't worry about getting into the hustle and bustle. We're here and we have an opportunity to bless you and we're so grateful to do so,'" Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church's Rev. Cecil L. Williams, Jr. said.
More Information: Lefty's Toy Drive
