Nfl Action Figures

By Author: Woodrow Workman
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Raffle prizes include everything from NFL memorabilia and autographs to childrens toys.It all takes place in the former location of McWhorters Stationary, at 282 Woodside Plaza.The woman behind this beloved annual charity is Belmont resident Carolyn Hoskins, alongtime family friend of Jerry Rices and the godmother of his children.Its a funny story how the toy drive first began nearly two decades ago - and it shows theoccasional pitfalls of having such a famous family friend, Hoskins jokes."When Jerry and his kids would come to my house to visit every year on Christmas, all theneighbors would show up just so they could see Jerry," she said with a laugh. "So, after awhile, I said, Im going to make you start bringing something with you."So, the toy drive started organically in that way, just out of Hoskins house - but it soonstarted to grow much bigger than her walls could hold in."Then, after a while, we started blocking off my street and making it a block party outside,"she said. "But then, that started out not being such a good idea, when one year, we had over400 people show up."It didnt stop there, and now, each year, Hoskins ...
... and her fellow volunteers look for abusiness that will lend them space for no charge around the holidays. Last year, Hoskins saidthey took up an empty storefront on Burlingame Avenue in Burlingame; this year, its the oldMcWhorters site in Redwood City."We were very fortunate this year, to find this location," she said.Hoskins thinks its a valuable experience for families to have their children help pick out anew, unwrapped toy to bring as a donation Saturday, so they learn about helping others."We want them to understand how fortunate they are, and that there are some kids out therethat arent as lucky," she said.And, they repay the families generosity with the visit from Santa, free giveaways for all thekids who come, courtesy of local businesses and companies, and, of course, the chance tomeet the NFL stars.The toys collected in the toy drive get distributed to 37 different Bay Area charities, such asthe Shelter Network, Stanford Hospital, the Boys and Girls Club of the Mid Peninsula, andmany more.
2. Attendees can also bring cash donations in lieu of a gift, and those funds, along with moneycollected by the raffles that take place at the event, go toward filling in nfl action figures some gaps andpurchasing gifts to give away. Hoskins said, it most often ends up being gifts for teens thatthey purchase."Most of the gifts we collect in the drive end up being for younger kids, so we like to purchasegifts that teens will like, such as cologne, scarves and hats, and things like that. We partnerwith Old Navy to get many of them," Hoskins explained. "We dont want the teens to get lostin the shuffle."On Saturday, the event takes place from 12-8 p.m. Santa Claus arrives at 1 p.m., and theNFL Alumni stars will be there from 2-5 p.m.NFL Alumni stars expected to attend Saturdays event include http://www.nflactionfigures.com

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Nfl Action Figures