9-year-old Helps Propel Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive to Record-breaking Success
With the 2023 holiday season behind us, we can now reflect on the cherished times we spent with friends and family, as well as the acts of kindness that made the holiday season happier and brighter for others. One inspiring story is the Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive, which collected a record 11,566 toys and served nearly 1900 children – making its biggest impact to date.
“Unfortunately, there are families in our community that are experiencing economic hardship, and the holiday season can be very difficult for them,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “The Toy Drive is a way for the community to come together in a selfless way to help these families, and that’s the beauty of the community we live in.”
One of the reasons for the record number of toys collected was individual acts of generosity, including that of 9-year-old Audrey, an Orange County resident who dropped off a large donation for the Toy Drive at her local library shortly before Christmas. Audrey is a young entrepreneur who, through her business of making and selling homemade body scrubs, made over $700 in profits over a few weeks.
She immediately took her profits and went on a shopping spree – not for herself, but to purchase toys for kids of all ages to be donated just in time for the holidays. “I wanted to give toys to local children, which is why I chose to donate to the Mayor’s Toy Drive,” she said.
If the donation in and of itself is not an indicator of how thoughtful and caring Audrey is, then the selection of toys gives her away. Audrey went shopping with inclusivity in mind, ensuring that all children feel seen and celebrated by purchasing toys spanning genders, age groups and races.
Audrey’s mom, Kelly, remains duly impressed by her daughter’s donation. “It makes me so happy and proud of her little heart,” she said. “Audrey’s idea to donate 100 percent of her funds was all hers, and that blows me away.”
For more on the Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive and how you can get involved next holiday season, go to Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive.