The Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County (MIAPBC) and the nonprofit Little Smiles have officially opened their annual holiday toy drive, a community‑wide effort to collect new, unwrapped toys for children in need. The campaign runs through mid‑December and culminates with the 32nd Annual Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday, December 5, at 6 p.m.
How to Donate
Donors can drop off toys at designated locations across the county. Participating sites include:
- Boca Raton: Royal Palm Residences; Fuse Specialty Appliances & Plumbing
- Hypoluxo: Palm Beach Yacht Center
- Riviera Beach: Cracker Boy Boat Works; Mariner Marine; Kindred Hospital of the Palm Beaches
- Lake Worth: Senjutsu Martial Arts
- North Palm Beach: Cove Towers Condominium Organization; Fuse Specialty Appliances & Plumbing; Village of North Palm Beach; North Palm Beach Recreation
- Palm Beach Gardens: Char Mar School of Dance; Club Oasis; Compass Real Estate; CycleBar Palm Beach Gardens; Palmdale Oil; McHale & Slavin PA; Michael Rybovich & Sons Boat Works; Waterway Café; Seminole Marine; Loggerhead Marina PBG
- West Palm Beach: Debt Helper; Miami Pizza
- Jupiter: Children’s Therapies, Inc.; Jupiter Police Department; Healy Residence; Maltz Jupiter Theatre; MarineMax, Inc.; Venue Marketing Group; 408 Center Street Salon
After the parade, donation boxes will remain open for several weeks to allow additional contributions.
Parade Details and Community Support
The holiday boat parade, presented by Safe Harbor, will feature a dazzling Zambelli fireworks display that begins in North Palm Beach and travels along the Intracoastal Waterway to the iconic Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. The event is a beloved tradition that showcases the county’s maritime heritage while bringing families together for a festive evening.
Community partners supporting the parade and toy drive include Safe Harbor Marinas, WPBF 25 News, Harbourside Place, the Town of Jupiter, Freedom Boat Club, Alan B. Miller Medical Center, and Port 32 Palm Beach Gardens Marina. Their involvement underscores the collaborative spirit that makes the holiday season brighter for families across Palm Beach County.
Impact of Past Drives
In previous years, the MIAPBC toy drive has collected tens of thousands of gifts for children facing financial hardship. Last year alone saw more than 14,000 toys donated, providing smiles and holiday cheer to countless families. Organizers hope this year’s effort will match or exceed that success, thanks to the generosity of local businesses, civic groups, and individual residents.
Why It Matters
Providing new toys to children in need aligns with the core values of faith, family, and liberty that define our community. By supporting the toy drive, Palm Beach residents help ensure that every child can experience the joy of the holiday season, reinforcing the strong family bonds that are the foundation of a thriving neighborhood.
For more information about donation locations or the boat parade schedule, visit the official event page or contact the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
