Toys Needed for Race to the Holidays Christmas Party at Infineon Raceway

All toys collected during the campaign will be distributed to more than 250 children at the raceway’s 4th annual Race to the Holidays Christmas Party on Saturday, Dec. 13.

“The kids really look forward to this party every year. Their favorite part is going to the track because it’s a place they’ve never been. It’s really magical, and they feel really taken care of for the day,” said Barbara Cullen, program director for the Willmar Center for Bereaved Children, which has participated in the Christmas party since its inception. “The parents just say ‘Thank you. We couldn’t do this this year.’ It’s a relief for them, and the kids have fun and the parents truly appreciate it.”

In addition to the Willmar Center, seven other community groups will bring children to the party, including Boys and Girls Club, Valley of the Moon; La Luz; Valley of the Moon Teen Center; Stand By Me Mentoring; Hanna Boys Center; and the Sonoma Valley High School Teen Parent Program.

The toy drive, which kicked off on Nov. 24, features a number of drop-off locations, for your convenience. Toys and gifts are needed for children from babies to 16 years old.

New, unwrapped toys and gifts can be dropped off Monday-Friday at the following locations in Sonoma through Dec. 8. You can also mail toys to Infineon Raceway. All times Pacific:

Infineon Raceway, 29355 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, 95476, 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Willmar Center for Bereaved Children, 579 First St. West, Sonoma, 707-935-1946, www.willmarcenter.org, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, 651-A Broadway, Sonoma, 707-996-1033, www.sonomachamber.com, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Fire Department, 260 Second Street West, Sonoma,
707-996-2102, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Schell-Vista Fire Department, 23000 Broadway, Sonoma,
707-938-2633, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Swiss Hotel, 18 West Spain Street, Sonoma, 938-2884, noon-5 p.m.
Sonoma Valley Sun, 158 West Napa Street, Sonoma, 707-933-0101, 9 a.m. -5 p.m.
Sonoma Index-Tribune, 117 West Napa Street, Sonoma, 707-938-2111, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Christmas Party will also benefit from a generous donation by Gundlach-Bundschu and its guests. The winery will gather toys at its annual Holiday Open House & Toy Drive on Saturday, Dec. 6. For more information about this event, visit www.gunbun.com.

For more information on the Children’s Race to the Holidays Christmas Party, please contact Denise Silver at dsilver@infineonraceway.com or 707-933-3950.