The 14th annual Positive Pahrump Toy Drive, organized by Positive Pahrump’s Stephanie Avena with support from PDOP, PVFR and Harry Means, wrapped up in spectacular fashion this past Saturday. The event, held outside Walmart from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., proved to be a massive success, highlighting the generosity and spirit of the Pahrump community during the holiday season.
Volunteers gathered donations of toys and money, shopped for, wrapped, and distributed an astonishing 1,800 presents in just over 35 sleepless, nonstop hours. The team worked tirelessly to ensure local children received the joy of Christmas this year. In total, $19,547 was raised, all of which was spent on toys for the drive. Along with these funds, roughly 350 additional presents were donated, bringing the total to an estimated 2,150 gifts.
This year’s toy drive served 74 households and nearly 200 children, marking a significant increase in both funds raised and families supported compared to previous years. For comparison, in 2021, the drive raised $2,280 and served 22 households with 56 kids. The exponential growth is a testament Stephanie’s determination and to the community’s commitment to making the holiday season special for everyone.
“We couldn’t have done this without the incredible support from our volunteers and donors,” Stephanie said. “Seeing the joy these gifts bring to families makes all the hard work worth it.”
In addition to the toy drive, the angel tree program also brought holiday cheer to the community, collectively providing Christmas gifts to approximately 200 children, for a combined total of approximately 400 children receiving gifts.
As the final presents are delivered, the success of this year’s toy drive serves as a shining example of what can be accomplished when a community comes together. Positive Pahrump and its supporters have truly made this a season to remember.
