Service members from the National Guard, Marines and Navy collect gifts from Newport Beach

Toys, athletic gear, scooters and games were among the thousands of gifts donated by residents of Newport Beach to military service members for Christmas.

This year, the items – part of Operation Christmas, an outreach project to benefit all the branches of the U.S. military run by the nonprofit Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation – were picked up by service members representing the National Guard, Marines and Navy. They will be distributed to families at bases in Southern California.

Paramedic Trent Cozy jokingly claims a toy he likes during Operation Christmas at city hall in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The gifts go to families of military service members. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

U.S. Marines 1st. Sgt. Tyler Sheets, left, and Sgt. Zachary Snyder, from Camp Pendleton, help unload toys donated to Operation Christmas at city hall in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The gifts go to families of military service members. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Piper Hawkinson, 3, from Naval Base Ventura County, carries a doll she picked out from toys donated to Operation Christmas at city hall in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The gifts go to families of military service members. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Specialist Preston Todd helps unload toys donated to Operation Christmas at city hall in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The gifts go to families of military service members. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

U.S. Marine 1st. Sgt. Tyler Sheets from Camp Pendleton join Newport Beach firefighters and soldiers from Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos as they unload gifts for Operation Christmas at city hall in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The gifts go to families of military service members. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Newport Beach firefighters and soldiers from Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos unload gifts for Operation Christmas at city hall in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The gifts go to families of military service members. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Winter Larson, left, and Piper Hawkinson, 3, both from Naval Base Ventura County, search for toys donated to Operation Christmas at city hall in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. The gifts go to families of military service members. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Newport Beach was one of several Orange County communities to organize toy drives and other support for military families this holiday season.

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Newport Beach has been collecting gifts from residents since 2005. The city gets the word out through social media and prominently placed drop boxes at local fire stations, the Police Department, community center, libraries and senior facilities.

“The Newport Beach community values our military servicemen and women and this is one way to show our appreciation for their sacrifice during the holidays,” said Mayor Joe Stapleton. “Knowing that we make their holidays a little brighter for their children is very special.”

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