A group of elves went to work opening large black bags filled with dolls, cars, trinkets, basketballs and more for Keys kids ahead of Christmas on Dec. 11 at the Founders Park Community Center.
“This is definitely more than we received last year,” said Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney, who helped spearhead this year’s local toy drive alongside Islamorada Fire Rescue Chief Terry Abel. “It’s amazing the outpouring of support we have received from the community.”
Since November, large boxes placed at various businesses from Islamorada to Key Largo allowed local residents the opportunity to drop unwrapped items to help make the holidays a little brighter for kids and their families. With the collection of numerous unwrapped toys also came generous donations from community members, Mahoney said.
Inside the community center, the group of elves sorted the toys by age and gender. The large black bags were picked up around town by Abel and fire rescuer Heidi Hungling.
Aiding in the unpacking and sorting effort were Kasandra Benavides, assistant for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Shelby Hall, general manager at Florida Keys Brewing Co.; Councilwoman Anna Richards, Village Manager Ron Saunders, Vice Mayor Sharon Mahoney; and resident Jamie Engel.
Once the gifts were sorted, the group checked the lists for local churches, daycares and schools and bagged their goods for pickup. The unpacking and sorting effort, which also included putting together some bikes, lasted from morning through the evening. Each group submitting wishlists stopped by the community center to grab their bags.
The local toy drive was once headed up by the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots. It was run by Lt. Gunny Slagle for some 19 years, up until last year. A lack of support staff brought an end to the local drive through Toys for Tots in 2024. That’s when Mahoney and Abel took the reins to the sleigh.
“It was an amazing outpouring of gifts this year,” Abel said. “We covered everyone on the list and then some.”
Gifts collected in Islamorada and Tavernier also aided the local toy drive in Key Largo. Another toy drive proved to be even more successful than last year, Mahoney said.
“We are so grateful to everyone in this community,” she said.
