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About 60 community members gathered at the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services last night to make the holidays a little bit brighter for Oak Park's children.  

The Oak Park Neighborhood Association has collected 300 toys for its Oak Park Toy Give-Away, which began Nov. 22 and will continue until Dec. 18.

"Imagine knowing that you may not receive a gift...Kids everywhere look forward to the thrill of opening gifts and we want to make sure that kids in Oak Park get to experience the excitement," said board member Michael Boyd, "Even more importantly, we want them to know they live in a community that cares about them; a community that values them, and a community that will help them."

Members of the association, Sacramento police officers, and various community members attended the potluck and toy gift-wrapping party. Attendees were encouraged to bring wrapping paper, gifts or food.

Association board members circulated throughout the three-hour event, passing out wrapping paper and Scotch tape as volunteers ate, mingled and wrapped. 

The goal of the association is to distribute 1,200 toys Dec. 19 from noon to 3 p.m.  The food bank is also the drop-off point, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,  7 p.m. on Wednesdays.  

If toys are wrapped, donors are asked to indicate whether they're for a boy or girl and the age range. On the day of the toy distribution, gifts will be divided into piles according to age group and given to children on a first-come first-serve basis.  

"The [toy drive] is important because it's about residents in the community taking care of those that live in that community. It's not about toys, it's about coming together and supporting each other. That's what makes us strong and keeps us strong," said board member and community activist LaTisha Lawson.  

In addition to their own efforts, the group has received some help gathering toys.

Sacramento's University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law organized an Angel Drive that brought in 100 toys.

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services is at 3333 Third Ave. in Oak Park.  

For more information about the Oak Park Neighborhood Association, visit  its website  or email opna@inmycommunity.com.