San Jose teen continues annual toy drive he started as a child
SAN JOSE, Calif. - A San Jose teen made it his goal at just 7 years old to make sure every child had a new toy for Christmas. Now 12 years later, his toy drive is giving away 30,000 toys.
Joey Childs, 19, who is a freshman at Oklahoma State, is back home for winter break, doing something he started as a kid – Joey's Toy Drive.
"I remember starting really, really small. And I remember collecting toys within my neighborhood and I vividly remember the first year when I collected 1,000 toys, and I was so excited. I would never expect to have 30,000 toys here in this warehouse, but I don’t see an end in sight," said Childs.
He said what pushes him to keep going every year is meeting the families that receive the toys.
"Being able to interact with the families that receive the toys and understand where they’re coming from and why they’re here, why they need the toys, it’s more than us filling their car with toys and putting a smile on their faces. It’s giving them hope, and it’s making them feel loved and listened to," he said.
More than 50 Bay Area businesses and schools helped donate toys for the drive, and the group Global Empowerment Mission helped secure about 15,000 toys.
The volunteers behind it all have been helping Joey for years and are now teenagers.
"I would not be able to do this by myself, not even half of what we do. My best friend Andrey and my best friend Adam, my little sister and everybody else, it truly is a big team effort," said Childs.
Joey's parents are incredibly proud of him, saying they didn't think the drive would last this long.
"He has a warm heart and beautiful soul. And this is not about him. This is about truly helping the community and others in need, and it’s so rewarding for all of us," said Joey's mom, Cheri Childs.
The whole family doesn't see the drive stopping any time soon.
"We can’t change the world, but we can raise a bunch of toys and put a smile on their faces and make Christmas better," said Childs.