It’s Christmas in July at the Stanislaus County Fair with the annual toy drive.

On Thursday, July 20 the Stanislaus County Fair and The Salvation Army are hosting a toy drive at the Fair gates. Fair guests who donate one or more toys will receive two carnival ride tickets from Butler Amusements. All donations will help local children receive gifts for Christmas this year.

“The Fair is about making memories for the children in our community. We are happy to be a part of such a wonderful cause,” said Adrenna Alkhas, spokesperson for the Fair.

The Mayor’s challenge is back this year. Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth has challenged his fellow Mayors from the nine cities in Stanislaus County to add a competitive element to the toy drive. Each Mayor will staff an entrance gate for a two-hour block between the hours of 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 20. We encourage the community to bring a toy to the Fair to aid the Salvation Army’s collection for Christmas.

“The Mayor’s challenge adds an element of friendly competition to a worthy cause,” said Soiseth. “We hope to break last year’s toy drive record.”

No donation is too small for The Salvation Army. Every donation will help give toys to children during Christmas. If a guest forgets to bring a toy, the Fair has vendors that sell toys.

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church. The Salvation Army is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.