The Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce is hoping Angelenos will help brighten the holidays for homeless children by donating new unwrapped toys to People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) during the chamber’s holiday toy drive.

Donations to the Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce’s holiday toy drive will be distributed by PATH to children of homeless families. (photo courtesy of PATH)

People can donate toys through Dec. 8 at Miracle Mile Toys and Games, 5363 Wilshire Blvd., or on Dec. 8 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in collection boxes at the parking structure for Olympic Medical Center at 5900 Olympic Blvd. The donations at Olympic Medical Center coincide with the chamber’s annual holiday luncheon at the medical center.

“The Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce is not just about businesses, it’s about the community, and part of the community is people who are less fortunate than us,” said Meg McComb, executive director of the chamber. “One of the ways we can do that is through contributions to organizations like PATH.”

The toy drive marks the second year the chamber has contributed to PATH during the holidays. Last year, the chamber collected donations of furniture and housewares to help homeless people moving into permanent housing. This year, the need was for children’s toys, said John Barrentine, co-founder of RED Real Estate, a company based in the Miracle Mile and a chamber member.

“Homelessness is certainly a deplorable thing. Everyone should have a right to shelter,” Barrentine said. “Anyone can bring a toy, even if you are not involved in the chamber. One of the things about PATH is it gives people ways to have a hands-on experience. Certainly in the Miracle Mile and the surrounding neighborhoods we see an incredible amount of homeless people. It is something that [affects us] on a daily basis.”

Red Real Estate supports PATH all year by donating a portion of proceeds from each home sale to the organization, totalling $4,000 annually.

Miracle Mile Toys and Games is also supporting the toy drive by offering a 20 percent discount to people who buy toys for donation, McComb said. She hopes the toy drive will result in an extraordinary amount of new, unwrapped books, games and toys.

“Last year, there was so much that they had to bring another van,” McComb added. “This year, they are bringing two vans, and our goal is to stuff both of them.”

Anyone seeking information about the toy drive is urged to email info@miraclemilechamber.org