FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2019

Contact: James Bolden, JamesBolden@dpss.lacounty.gov  

DPSS AND AMAZON URGE TOY DONATIONS TO BENEFIT LOW-INCOME YOUTH IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Just in time for #GivingTuesday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) Toy Loan Program and Amazon are encouraging charitable donations via the Amazon Wishlist website to benefit nine Toy Loan Center sites serving low-income communities.

With the support of the County’s Internal Services Department, the site brings the convenience of Amazon shopping to benefit thousands of families who rely on the Toy Loan Program.

DPSS encourages donors to post a screenshot of their Toy Loan donation to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with #ToyLoan.

For 83 years, the County’s Toy Loan Program has been a cherished memory for so many who recall the thrill of checking out a toy from one of the now 54 lending libraries.  The program is a voluntary, community effort supported by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.

The Amazon site, http://toydrive.lacounty.gov/ allows users to geographically select a Toy Loan Program site and have in-need Amazon Smile charity wish lists items shipped directly to the site.

The new partnership serves as a continuation of an existing effort by Amazon, #GivingTuesday, which is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. It’s a time when many tend to focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. Since its inaugural year in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year.

For more information about the Toy Loan Program or a complete list of the nine Toy Loan Center sites where a charitable donation can be made, visit the Toy Loan Website or see below.

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About the DPSS Toy Loan Program

The DPSS Toy Loan Program was created in 1935 as a free service to allow children to borrow toys from a DPSS toy lending Library for one week in the same manner that books are borrowed from a library. Children borrow toys and develop a sense of responsibility through the observance of an honor code and merit system that gives praise and recognition when toys are returned on time and undamaged. A child can receive an Honor Award, a new toy to keep, by taking good care of the toy they borrowed and bringing the toy back on time. There are currently 54 toy lending libraries in Los Angeles County. Toy Loan is a voluntary community effort supported by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.