Light up some eyes this season Light up some eyes this season (December 02, 2005)

Toy drive for Children's Hospital

Pleasanton residents can donate new, unwrapped toys for children and families admitted in the Children's Hospital and Research Center of Oakland at Coffee & Beans, 401 Main St., from Dec. 1-20.

The drive is organized by a Pleasanton resident whose son was cared for at the facility after a heart operation last year. All toys must be new -- stuffed toys especially -- because of the hospital's infection control policy.

To ensure this, it is asked that stuffed toys still have their sales tags. The patient population includes many infants and toddlers, so the organizers ask donors to avoid toys that have small or sharp pieces. New and gently used English and non-English books are also welcome as the hospital provides these to patients and encourages them to take books home with them.

The hospital distributes up to 500 books per day depending on donations. Call 922-0822 for more information. -by Rebecca Guyon

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