Toy drives are a holiday tradition, and this year the Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce and Miracle Mile Toys and Games collected donations for children of homeless families.

Seven-year-old Adelene Olive Gruber donated Shopkins to children in need as part of a toy drive at Miracle Mile Toys and Games. (photo courtesy of Christine Johnson, Miracle Mile Toys and Games)

A highlight of the toy drive wasn’t the donations from the many businesses who participated, rather a gift from a child. Seven-year-old Miracle Mile resident Adelene Olive Gruber donated some of her prized toys to People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) with the help of Miracle Mile Toys and Games.

The gift was the result of a package for the girl’s father being mistakenly delivered to the toy store at 5363 Wilshire Blvd. The package was for Michael Gruber, an architect whose office is located at 6363 Wilshire Blvd. Miracle Mile Toys and Games owner Christine Johnson said staff members recognized the name on the package, found the owner online and called Gruber to let him know they received it.

“His office was a five-minute walk away. He came by, saw the toy bins (for PATH) and said, ‘my daughter has some presents,’” Johnson said. “It turns out they were Shopkins, one of the hottest toys. She is quite the collector and she took all the ones she didn’t need any more and wrapped them up for other kids.”

Shopkins are little figurines that come in packaged sets. Gruber explained that his daughter, who goes by Olive, had accumulated dozens of duplicate Shopkins and the family wanted to give them to children in need.

He initially reached out to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, but learned the hospital can only accept new packaged gifts because of protocols to prevent infections. He wasn’t sure where to donate the toys until he saw the bins at Miracle Mile Toys and Games.

“It was all by coincidence. I was trying to find an avenue for these extra toys my daughter has and was at a dead end as to who to give them to,” Gruber said. “There were just so many, three to five of the same thing. Our thought was to give them to other kids so they could be beneficial and it would put a smile on their faces. The chance meeting with Christine worked out perfectly.”

Gruber said Olive wrapped the duplicate Shopkins and a few days later, approximately 100 packages were donated to the toy drive.

“She went with my wife to drop them off,” Gruber said. “She is very shy and quiet, but it is something she picked up on. She did all the work. She is very happy she gave.”

Johnson said the donation was a heartwarming gesture, and the toys were delivered to PATH for a holiday party held last weekend.

“I was blown away,” Johnson said. “I thought, what a collection this little girl has and how amazing it is that she wanted to share them with other kids. I was so impressed they wrapped them all. It was very festive and sweet.”

Gruber said he hopes the children enjoy the Shopkins, and added that donating them was a learning experience about the power of giving. It’s a tradition he plans to continue.

“It doesn’t matter which children receive the gifts, only that they received a gift,” Gruber said. “It was all for good.”