A Popular Toy Drive In Amarillo Returns For Its 11th Year

The holidays are all about giving, and in Amarillo, it seems that giving is something a lot of people like to do. We as a community are one of the most close knit in the state of Texas, that is something I firmly believe.

The amount of care and respect we show one another, especially when it comes to someone in need, is unmatched. As the holidays are now in full swing, we see different types of drives take place to be able to help our community during tough times.

2023 was a difficult year for many, and for those who were already having difficulty, it got a bit worse. When it comes to the holidays, those struggles tend to affect the kids. Some get far less than they normally would for Christmas, while sadly there are kids who will receive absolutely nothing. It breaks their soul and they lose that Christmas spirit.

Many toy drives start to pop up to make sure those kids get a Christmas they deserve, and the Northside Toy Drive is one of the best around. It's back for its 11th year, and they're doing it up big time to make sure every child in Amarillo gets a Christmas this year.

On Friday, December 15th, they'll hold their Black Tie Affair. It'll take place at the Amarillo Civic Center Heritage Ballroom that will be an absolute blast of a time, and all for a great cause.

Live music, casino games, dinner, and of course, cocktails and drinks will be there for you, and it's all about raising funds and collecting toys for those kiddos in need. Now normally, black tie events cost a good chunk of money to get into. This one? All you need to bring is a new, unwrapped toy and you're in the door for an evening of fun.

The work doesn't stop there though, as the following day, Saturday, December 16th, the Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway will happen. At 1 pm at the Palo Duro High School activity center, they'll be handing out those toys along with Santa.

Neighborhood children ranging in ages 2-12 will be able to choose a toy from the amazing stack collected the previous night and also visit with Santa. You don't need to register for this event, just show up. Children must be present though, parents can't come by and pick something up for them.

If you want more info on all the events, you can find them at Northside Toy Drive's website.