The Bring Joy to SA Toy Drive hosted its annual toy giveaway event on December 18, 2022. The organizing committee celebrates the significant milestone of organizing this event in San Antonio for the past 10 years. The goal of this annual toy drive is to celebrate San Antonio’s growing diversity and reaffirms our commitment as a welcoming community for all people. Many of the children and their families served have recently relocated to San Antonio from conflict areas in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The annual drive also benefits children in low-income communities. Last year, there was an increase in new families from Afghanistan due to the conclusion of the U.S. war in the country. The goal for the toy drive continues to focus on building bridges of understanding and promoting inclusion for these new families while celebrating the holidays.
All years combined, the organization has gifted toys to over 3,000 families. The toy drive expects to serve 300 families this year.
The Bring Joy SA Toy Drive committee was established as a project by college students from local institutions involved in civic organizations. In its tenth year, the project continues to be led by organizer Carlos de Leon. The organizing committee in previous years has received support from community organizations such as Santa’s Cruisers – Mystic Knights Car Club, Students of Service – San Antonio, among other individuals and civic organizations, including Dr. Christina Mireles with UT Health Science Center. This Toy Drive was created for refugee families resettling in San Antonio. The annual Toy Drive has grown to provide gifts to other low-income and underserved families in the surrounding community and is open to the public.
