{"id":81909,"date":"2025-07-22T00:40:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T00:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/81909\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T00:40:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T00:40:14","slug":"county-fairgoers-donate-4349-stuffed-animals-to-children-in-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/81909\/","title":{"rendered":"County fairgoers donate 4,349 stuffed animals to children in need"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Toys were distributed through the Chula Vista Eastlake Rotary Club projects. (Photo courtesy of the 22nd District Agricultural Association)<\/p>\n

This summer at the San Diego County Fair<\/a>, carnival game prizes turned into acts of kindness as fairgoers donated 4,349 stuffed animals to the Care \u2018n Share Toy Drive<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The toys dropped off at exit gate donation boxes have since been distributed to children across San Diego and Tijuana, continuing a tradition that began in 2009.<\/p>\n

Program founder Nancy Stoke recalled watching a 4- or 5-year-old boy approach one of the donation boxes with his grandparents, all three carrying armfuls of stuffed animal prizes they had won playing carnival games.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs most children do, he inspected the contents of the collection box and then announced \u2018I want to donate!\u2019\u201d Stoke said. \u201cHe began to purposefully toss in each of the prizes he was carrying and then turned to Grandma and started tossing in what she was holding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stoke said she quietly thanked the grandfather for raising such a generous child.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrandpa said that it was all the child\u2019s doing \u2014 it was the third day they had come to the fair and each day the boy won prizes and then chose to keep one for himself and donate the rest,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure enough, once Grandma\u2019s arms were empty, he turned to Grandpa, pondered a moment as to what prize he wanted to keep, and then began tossing the others into the box,\u201d she said. \u201cThose of us volunteering who were lucky enough to see this happening were cheering and clapping loudly as each donation was tossed in. Departing fair guests stopped to watch and cheer; soon the evening air was filled with joy at the generosity of this young child.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a beautiful experience for everyone! We all had goosebumps and enjoyed his giving as much as he did, and I\u2019m sure equally as much as the recipient children will enjoy his generosity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Organized by the Torrey Pines Rotary Club<\/a> in partnership with the fair, the drive has distributed more than 122,000 toys since its inception.<\/p>\n

2025 Care \u2018n Share Toy Drive distribution by the numbers:<\/strong><\/p>\n