Surfin’ Santa Paws Toy Drive

A few weeks ago, we reported on Surf Dog Ricochet surfing with special-needs kids. This December, Ricochet aims to help again by leading a holiday toy drive to benefit children and animals in San Diego, Calif. To launch the drive this morning, Ricochet switched her surfing vest for a Santa jacket and cruised in on her surfboard at Del Mar dog beach.

This toy drive is Ricochet’s second annual project, and boasts an exciting combination of her love for helping children and animals. It will benefit both Rady Children’s Hospital and the Helen Woodward Animal Center, which Ricochet helped at this past summer’s Surf Dog Surf-a-Thon.

Last year, Ricochet’s toy drive gathered donations from all over the world in connection with her “From Service Dog to SURFice Dog” viral video on YouTube. Thanks to her video, the toy drive raised more than $3,550 in donations and, as a result, 638 children received toys for the holidays. Ricochet hopes to raise even more donations and toys this time around.

Ricochet chose to help benefit Rady Children’s Hospital because of its efforts each year to give its young patients toys, games or art supplies to brighten their stays. In addition, Ricochet wanted to help the Helen Woodward Animal Center due to their efforts in advocating change in the animal welfare world. The center gives the toys they receive to offer comfort and joy to animals waiting for their furever homes.

But Ricochet can’t do it alone, and we encourage all our readers to help her gather donations or toys for the holidays. If you want to pitch in, Ricochet is accepting online donations via her website through December 21. The money will be used to buy toys for the kids and animals in need. Ricochet’s local sponsor, SanDiegoSunCoast.com, is also providing drop boxes to those who wish to have one.

You can mail toys to: Surfin’ Santa Paws Toy Drive, P.O. Box 6765, San Diego, CA 92166.

For more information, visit Ricochet’s website or contact Judy Fridono at 707-228-0679 or pawinspired@aol.com.

PHOTO: surfdogricochet.com