Hello Friends,
I am Pete O'Neal, founder of the It's Kindertime Toy Drive. This toy drive unifies police and other first responders throughout the state of Maryland with the communities they serve. Toys are collected throughout the holiday season and delivered to sick, needy and homeless children throughout the state .They are delivered by police caravan on one special night during the month of December.
Our toy drivers as we call them are very excited about our upcoming event. This is the 23rd year for the drive and we here at the toy drive are also very excited. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, we have had to make major modifications. Our location is the same- Huber Community Life Center on the corner of Loch Raven Blvd. and Belvedere Ave. (5700 Loch Raven Blvd). However in our effort to maintain the safety and health of our participants, there will be no banquet. Instead, we will meet on the parking lot at 4:00 and drive by our usual toy recipient locations without stopping. Please click the logistics tab for more information about how we are planning to proceed on that day.
I am Pete O'Neal, founder of the It's Kindertime Toy Drive. This toy drive unifies police and other first responders throughout the state of Maryland with the communities they serve. Toys are collected throughout the holiday season and delivered to sick, needy and homeless children throughout the state .They are delivered by police caravan on one special night during the month of December.
Our toy drivers as we call them are very excited about our upcoming event. This is the 23rd year for the drive and we here at the toy drive are also very excited. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, we have had to make major modifications. Our location is the same- Huber Community Life Center on the corner of Loch Raven Blvd. and Belvedere Ave. (5700 Loch Raven Blvd). However in our effort to maintain the safety and health of our participants, there will be no banquet. Instead, we will meet on the parking lot at 4:00 and drive by our usual toy recipient locations without stopping. Please click the logistics tab for more information about how we are planning to proceed on that day.
For those of you who might be new to the toy drive, here’s a little bit of the history. Founded by my wife Beverly and I, the toy drive is in its 23rd year providing toys to sick and needy children throughout Maryland. Each year during the holiday season, toys are collected at Baltimore City Sheriff’s Department, Baltimore County Volunteer and Career Firehouses, Baltimore City Fire Department, Maryland State Police, and various other community organizations. During its many years of operation the toy drive has distributed hundreds of thousands of toys. After toys are collected, they are distributed by a caravan of police officers and firefighters to places like Kennedy Krieger Institute, Ronald McDonald House, Bea Gaddy Family Center and The Agape Christian Center and homeless shelters. Prior to toy delivery night thousands of toys are also given to governmental and social service . organizations throughout the state.
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Many police departments take toys back to their districts for parties. This toy drive benefits children and parents who are in need. It also benefits firefighters and police officers who get a chance to showcase the good works they do in the community. The toy drive is dedicated to fallen police officers and firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty and to the memory of my mother, Jeromia O’Neal, who was murdered in 1993. The toy drive pays homage to the group of dedicated Baltimore City homicide detectives who refused to retire until her case was solved.
Joining my wife and I in leadership roles are our sons Pete Jr., Patrick and their wives Chantal and Genevieve. The Founders, Pete and Beverly O'Neal |
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