The Sandals Foundation spearheads largest toy drive in company history

The Sandals Foundation, the charitable arm of Sandals and Beaches Resorts, has launched its largest-ever annual toy drive, delivering 45,000 toys to children across the Caribbean.

Donated toys included Rubik’s Cubes, Kinetic Sand Kits, puzzles, games, Lego blocks, dinosaur figurines and Squishmallow plushies, donated by companies Spin Master, Jazwares and The Toy Foundation.

The initiative brought 18,000 toys to children in Jamaica, and last week the charity held a festive event to distribute toys to more than 400 children in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, a community still recovering from damage inflicted by Hurricane Melissa earlier this year.

The day included music, crafts, treats, appearances by Santa and elves, as well as a workshop in partnership with Sesame Street characters.

The annual toy drive has been running for more than 10 years and has donated more than 170,000 toys to date.

Executive director Heidi Clarke said: “The holidays are about hope, the kind that reassures every child that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved, and we’re incredibly grateful to all the partners and volunteers who have been part of this legacy of giving over the years.”