The East County Toy Drive That Began 50 Years Ago

The holidays mean toy drives and here in the San Diego area, it was 50 years ago this month that a toy drive started in the East County by an El Cajon business owner and community leader named Stoney Stone,

Longtime KOGO listeners might remember it because we did live broadcasts where our listeners would drop off hundreds of toys on the day thousands of toys donated over several weeks were transported to the site in El Cajon by a couple of dozen fire trucks in a parade across town.

Stoney, who passed away in 2016, used to tell us that from the beginning of his toy drive, it was always “all about the kids”. He even started a non-profit organization called Stoney’s Kids.

After his death, over the years, the Salvation Army in El Cajon stepped in and became involved in a toy drive, and while things changed, the magic and inspiration of Stoney and his East County Toy Drive is still around.

It happens in El Cajon tomorrow, Saturday, Dec 6th, when some of the firefighters who helped Stoney deliver all those toys to all those many thousands of kids all those years, get into their fire trucks, in a street like parade, and drop off lots of toys at the Elks Club on Washington Avenue near Jamacha Road.

Stoney won’t be there, but his spirit will be and thanks to his caring heart and a Santa Claus like willingness to give, Christmas will be brighter for some needy East County families, because, as Stoney would say, it’s all about the kids.

(Photo East County Magazine)