The 68th Toy Coffee make Christmas brighter for area youth

The Service League of Orange's 68th Annual Toy Coffee takes place10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thursday at 803 6th St. in Orange. This beautiful Victorian home was built in 1906 and is owned by Bruce and Robyn Hunt. It is a 4,290 square-foot single family home, with pine wood floors throughout, a Mahogany wood staircase, several fireplaces, a large foyer, formal dining and living, parlors, study, a large kitchen and pantry, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Admission to tour this home, decorated for the holidays, is a new, unwrapped toy or money donation for the Salvation Army of Orange County Angel Tree project to help families in need during the holidays.

"It's our honor to host the Toy Coffee for the 68th year to assist the Salvation Army in making sure the children of Orange County experience Joy on Christas morning," said Service League president Emily Mellen.

Sherry Stalnaker is the chair of this year's event, with Tricia Stroud and Rita Ballard acting as co-chairs.

There will be golf carts on site to shuttle people back and forth to their cars.

Once the tour is completed, refreshments will be served.

Several schools in the county have toy drives with students delivering them to the Toy Coffee each year. Stroud stated last year's event raised $13,595 and 556 toys. with 397 visitors. 

"Times are challenging for many families and this is truly a season for us all to pull together and help our neighbors," said Stroud. "Some families are on the receiving end this year when they are normally on the giving season. I think that's important to recognize."

The Service League of Orange provides several charitable, health, and education services to Orange County. Besides the tradition of the Toy Coffee, they also run the gift shop located at the Baptist Hospital outpatient center and every three years, they host the Follies.

Mellen also spoke about the Salvation Army's Angel Trees, which is another way to help if you cannot attend the Toy Coffee Thursday.

"With the closing of International Paper and Invista, who adopted many Angels each year, there is a great need for folks to claim an Angel Tree kid so our Orange County kids can have a Christmas. If you're interested in adopting an Angel Tree kid, go to the Orange, BC, or Vidor Walmarts to take a tag off of those trees, or call their Angel Tree Hotline (409-233-8506) or Bonnie (409-291-98400) at The Salvation Army Orange TX to get one/say how many you'd like. Needs/gifts are due back to the Salvation Army by December 11th."