Council members host toy drive

Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune

Madera City Councilwoman Anita Evans takes part in the ugly Christmas sweater contest.

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More than 100 people brought toys and joined in celebration with Madera City Councilwoman Anita Evans at her Christmas Extravanganza.

The primary purpose of the Extravaganza is to collect toys to distribute to every child at James Monroe and Pershing elementary schools, and Evans thinks she has reached that goal.

“We brought in at least 200 toys tonight,” she said. “I am truly thankful for everyone that showed up. We even had some people bring in toys and didn’t stay.”

For Evans, Sunday’s event was a time for people to come together and celebrate the holidays, while also helping others.

Evans will distribute the toys on Thursday to every child at the two schools.

In addition to a dinner provided by Sugar Pine Smokehouse, partygoers participated in a dress-up contest and an ugly sweater contest.

“It was really good to see everyone get up and mingle with each other,” she said. “We all got together and made good things.”

This is Evans’ second Extravaganza and her best one, so far. In addition to people bringing in toys with their admission, she also received car loads of toys.

Nasreen Johnson from Caglia Environmental/Redrock Environmental and Rico and Ofelia Saldivar from Red Wave Tattoo needed help emptying their vehicles of toys.

“It was an extravagant event. It was over the top and a blessing from God,” Evans said.