Care 'N Share Toy Drive Continues Legacy of Comfort and Compassion

"Stuffed with love, ready to hug, and delivered with heart."

It began in 2009 with a wooden toy collection bin and just 150 donated stuffed animals at the San Diego County Fair. Today, the “Care 'N Share Toy Drive” has blossomed into one of the region's most heartwarming traditions.

Thanks to the vision and dedication of Rotarian Nancy Stoke, the Care 'N Share Toy Drive has distributed more than 122,000 stuffed animals to children facing illness, hardship, and other difficult circumstances throughout the San Diego–Tijuana region.

This year marked a new chapter for the beloved program as Nancy officially passed the torch to the Foundation for the Children of the Californias (FCC), which proudly assumed leadership of the initiative in partnership with the San Diego County Fair.

The community responded with overwhelming generosity.

Throughout the Fair, volunteers staffed donation booths near the exit gates, inviting guests to donate stuffed animals they had won on rides and games. Their enthusiasm—and the kindness of Fair visitors—resulted in an incredible 4,211 stuffed animals collected during this year's drive.

The effort was made possible by an outstanding team of volunteers from Kiwanis, the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake, and Rotarians from across Rotary District 5340, all working together to transform carnival prizes into gifts of comfort for children who need them most.

Those thousands of plush companions are already making their way into the hands of children across our region. Many will comfort young patients receiving care at Hospital Infantil de las Californias in Tijuana, while others will brighten the lives of hospitalized children, underserved families, and military families on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Each stuffed animal represents a simple but powerful reminder that someone cares.

Our Rotary expresses heartfelt gratitude to Nancy for her remarkable leadership and enduring legacy, to every volunteer who gave their time, and to the thousands of Fair guests whose generosity continues to bring hope, comfort, and countless smiles to children throughout our binational community.

The Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake stepped up in a big way for San Diego Red Shoe Day, raising $2,125 to support families with hospitalized children and surpassing its fundraising goal by 6%.

On May 20, a team of 10 volunteers—including seven members of the Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake—spent the day collecting donations at the busy intersection of Bonita Road and Otay Lakes Road. Thanks to the generosity of residents and motorists, the team exceeded its $2,000 fundraising goal and finished 11th overall among participating San Diego organizations. Special thanks to our club's team captain, Craig Smith, whose “keep charging” emails kept us on task.

Red Shoe Day is the signature community fundraising event benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego. The annual event helps provide housing, meals, and support services for families who need to stay close to a child receiving medical treatment. San Diego organizers noted that the event raised more than $170,000 for San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House, and donations were still coming in. The support helps provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing for families with children receiving hospital care.

"Every moment together matters to a child in the hospital and to the parents caring for them," said Rotary volunteers. "By participating in Red Shoe Day, we help ease some of life's burdens for families facing medical crises."

Throughout the May 20 event, volunteers donned red shoes and collected donations from passing motorists, who responded with generosity and encouragement via a friendly wave or honk. The funds raised will help Ronald McDonald House continue its mission of providing comfort, care, and a home away from home for families during some of their most difficult moments.

The Rotary Club of Chula Vista Eastlake extends its sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this year's effort and to the dedicated volunteers who represented the club with enthusiasm and heart.

After exceeding its goal and making a meaningful impact for local families, the club is already looking forward to supporting Red Shoe Day again in 2027.