Long Beach Rescue Mission welcomed hundreds of children and families in need to enjoy a day full of Christmas cheer and holiday magic.
The local nonprofit once again opened its doors to the Long Beach community for its 19th annual Christmas Toy Drive earlier this month, where children in need get to celebrate the holiday with toys they pick out themselves, as well as enjoy treats, holiday activities, meet Santa and more.
This year, the need in the community was greater than ever, organizers said. Long Beach Rescue Mission’s goal was to make sure that underserved children experienced the joy, wonder and excitement of a special Christmas by helping families out.
“Today, we’re having a Christmas Toy Giveaway for the kids in our community,” said Jeff Levine, the nonprofit’s president and CEO. “About 45% of the families that live in this area live below the poverty line. This is a big deal for them. It creates an experience and we’re sharing the love of Christ, like love your neighbor.”
Children of all ages got to choose a couple of gifts to take home from the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A stilt walker dressed as a nutcracker put a Christmas headband on a child at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children could get an airbrush tattoo at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children wrote letters to Santa Claus at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and families attended the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and families posed for photos with Santa Claus at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and families posed for photos with Santa Claus at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A child excited to get a stuffed animal at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and families posed for photos with Santa Claus at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children wrote letters to Santa Claus at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children wrote letters to Santa Claus at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children getting cotton candy at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A family taking pictures with an inflatable gingerbread person at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children of all ages got to choose a couple of gifts to take home from the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and families attended the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children of all ages got to choose a couple of gifts to take home from the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and their families received food and drinks at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and their families attended the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and families attended the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and families posed for photos with Santa Claus at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A child getting his face painted at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Grinch was making teens laugh at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and families attended the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Buddy the Elf, the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who greeted children and families at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children making holiday crafts at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Hundreds of children and their families received food and drinks at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Girls Make Beats was the DJ playing Christmas music at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children laughed and screamed as they played with snow at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children and their families lined up outside to get into the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children and families got Christmas headbands as they made their way inside the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A child was excited and danced with the stilt walker dressed as a nutcracker at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children laughed and screamed as they played with snow at the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Show Caption
1 of 32
Children of all ages got to choose a couple of gifts to take home from the Long Beach Rescue Mission’s annual Christmas Toy Giveaway on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach Rescue Mission’s newly renovated parking lot was transformed into an elf-themed, Christmas wonderland for the event on Saturday, Dec. 13. Before entering the event, children could see the fake snow falling from the sky, and as they waited, they were greeted by Christmas characters, including Buddy the Elf, the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who.
Once inside, kids were greeted by stilt walkers dressed as nutcrackers and inflatable gingerbread people. The parking lot was a winter wonderland for children and families to explore.
Making their way through the event, children and families received food and drinks, such as hot dogs, baked goods, hot chocolate, candy, popcorn and cotton candy. There were also several holiday activities to do, such as playing in snow, writing letters to Santa, and doing holiday crafts. Kids could also get their faces painted or get an airbrush tattoo.
“We finally got our parking lot finished early this year and we really wanted it for the community and so we could do things like this, to bless kids,” Levine said. “Some of these kids have never been to the snow.”
Through partners such as Marley Rose Music Festival, who has helped host the annual Christmas Toy Giveaway for the past three years, and decorations by The Perfect Party Events, the annual event was bigger and better than ever, Levine said.
Hundreds of children and teens got in line to pick out a couple of toys for Christmas. From baby dolls and stuffed animals to volleyballs and scooters, there was plenty to choose from.
The nonprofit had collected thousands of toys, with help from partnerships throughout Long Beach, and anticipated to welcome more than 1,000 children during the event, Levine said. Volunteers filled in as Santa’s helpers and would bring more toys to fill the empty spaces on an already crowded table of different toys.
The holiday magic continued with children getting the opportunity to meet Santa Claus and take a photo with their gifts. Children were filled with gratitude and wonder, and parents and family members were grateful as well.
“We want to be a light to our community, we want to share the hope that we have because Jesus is born,” Levine said in a video after the event. “Thank you guys for everything you’ve done to make this possible. God Bless you guys and Merry Christmas.”