San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s office is putting its holiday spirit behind the fourth annual San Jose Toy Drive, an effort that has grown exponentially in a short time and aims to distribute more than 30,000 toys to families at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds next weekend.
That’s correct. Even the mayor of the larger city of San Jose has been drawn into the orbit of San Jose Foos, the megapopular social media account and civic influencer who has been part of the toy drive since 2021.
“San Jose Foos is a social media phenomenon,” said Mahan, who recorded an Instagram video with San Jose Foos founder Anthony Gomez in front of City Hall last month. “We’ve been trying to work together and promote good causes in the city, and this is a great initiative that I want to support.”
The effort could still use more toys before distribution to about 10,000 pre-registered families next weekend. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off in person at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds or donors can contribute cash or purchase something directly from the San Jose Toy Drive Amazon Wish List. Go to www.sanjosetoydrive.com to learn more.
The San Jose Toy Drive started small as a collaboration between Japantown businesses, but it grew very large in a short time. Sacred Heart Community Service is also joining in the effort this year, alongside the fairgrounds, which is donating the use of its space for toy distribution for a second year.
Salene Duarte, interim co-executive director of Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Management Corp., said she is excited about the partnership with Sacred Heart and San Jose Foos.
“It’s heartwarming to see our community come together through the efforts of these incredible influencers and organizations,” she said. “By providing our facilities for free, we reaffirm our commitment to connecting essential resources to those who need them – a small gesture that can create lasting joy. »
ALL ON BOARD: Caltrain’s festive holiday train will return to bring joy along the Peninsula and South Bay this weekend. Decorated with more than 70,000 lights, the Holiday Train will make stops at nine stations from San Francisco to Santa Clara on Saturday and Sunday, making a 20-minute stop at each where visitors can hear the onboard carolers and the Salvation Army Christmas Brass Set. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be there to greet the children and pose for photos.
Visitors are of course encouraged to bring a new toy or book to donate to the Salvation Army and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program, and there will be donation bins at each station. The train will depart San Francisco each day at 4 p.m. and stop in San Mateo, Redwood City, Mountain View and Santa Clara on Saturday and Millbrae, Burlingame, Menlo Park and Sunnyvale on Sunday. Visit www.caltrain.com/holidaytrain for the full schedule and other information.
BEAR NECESSITIES: Expect a stuffed animal show Saturday at Tech CU Arena when the San Jose Barracuda host their annual Teddy Bear Toss game as they take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals to the game which will be thrown onto the ice after the Barracuda’s first goal. Remember not to bring anything too precious: the stuffed animals will be collected and distributed to children through Kaiser Medical Centers. The game starts at 6 p.m. and you can purchase tickets at sjbarracuda.com.
WRITING TIPS: Marine artist Jim Campbell publishes his third book, “Hold Fast,” an illustrated history of sailing with nearly 100 of his pen and ink drawings. He will host a book signing ceremony at an appropriate location: Morgan’s Cove, the pirate-themed venue created by the late Rich Firato in Morgan Hill. It takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on December 8.
Campbell, 96, worked in distribution for the Mercury News for 47 years before retiring in the 1990s. His previous books featured the mines of New Almaden and the historic sites of San Jose. In 1977, he was commissioned to create lithographs of three San Jose icons for the city’s bicentennial, the Electric Lighthouse, St. Joseph Cathedral, and the Adobe of Peralta.
ART AND ABOUT: Olga Enciso Smith has spent the last half-century traveling and meeting artists and artisans, and South Bay gift seekers can reap the benefits Friday evening as she hosts an exhibition and sale at Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas at Citadel Art Studios.
Items include hand-woven wool shawls, hand-embroidered blouses, scarves, sterling silver earrings and fabric dolls, as well as watercolors and oil paintings from Mexico, from Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and southwestern states like Arizona and New Mexico. The sale runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 199 Martha St. #199 in San Jose.
SEASONAL GREETINGS: Jim Barth, a longtime Los Gatos resident and immediate past president of the Los Gatos Lions Club, will serve as grand marshal in the town’s annual holiday parade, which begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. He will finally be able to compete with his wife, Dru Barth, who was grand marshal in 1999.
And if you have an “ugly” Christmas sweater, you can bring it to Campbell’s Carol of Lights celebration downtown on Saturday. The free event, sponsored by the Downtown Campbell Business Association, begins at 4 p.m. and is expected to include a petting zoo, donkey rides, crafts, face painting, carol singers and other performances community. Let’s hope the sea of ugly sweaters doesn’t scare the donkeys.
