Several locations around the community have set out boxes for donations of new, unwrapped toys for the Escalon Fire Christmas Toy Drive, with pick up due on Friday, Dec. 20, the day before the scheduled Dec. 21 giveaway for those families that signed up for the program. Here, a table displays some of the items collected by the Escalon American Legion, which co-hosts the event with the fire department. Other drop boxes are at D’Boni’s Pizza, Mountain Mike’s Pizza, The Learning Tree Preschool, Escalon City Hall, Bank of the West, El Portal Middle School, Vintage Pharmacy and Main Street Market. Also, Oak Valley Community Bank, Escalon Fire Station 1, Pizza Plus, Escalon Premier Brands, Dent Elementary School, Les Schwab, Family Dollar and Saron Lutheran Church. For more information, call the Escalon Fire Department at 209-838-7500.

Marg Jackson/The Times