Stuff-A-Bus drive fills record 7 1/2 buses at Topanga mall in Canoga Park

CANOGA PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- Here's your chance to make the holidays special for less-fortunate children. Our annual Spark of Love Toy Drive is in full swing.

Donate online to the Spark of Love Toy Drive right now

Southlanders came out bright and early to help ABC7's resident elf Garth Kemp Stuff-A-Bus full of toys at Westfield Topanga mall in Canoga Park on Friday, bringing new, unwrapped toys or sports equipment for children. Their efforts helped fill a record seven 1/2 buses. Last year, five buses were stuffed

Get information and directions to Stuff-A-Bus in Cerritos

The event, held from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., was our third Stuff-A-Bus drive of 2012. Last week, generous donors helped stuff a total of eight buses in Cerritos.

Southern California Honda Dealership representatives brought cars full of sporting equipment. They never fail to join every Stuff-A-Bus event. Our friends at Facey Medical Group also brought toys and games for kids. The Calabasas Country Club donated a check for $1,000 as well as brand new junior golf sets.

Kids will have something special to open this holiday season, thanks to the generosity of Spin Master and Imperial Toys who also stopped by and donated toys.

Video2ugames.com parked their ultimate video game bus and entertained gamers with their large collection of the most popular video games out.

Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine came out to support the cause, bringing toys he gathered with his staff.

Warehouse Shoe Sale dropped by and donated shoes and toys to under-served children in the community.

Liz Rusnak with Rusnak Auto Group came out, dressed in Santa gear, hauling cars full of toys for kids. She said it's important not to forget the teens in need in addition to younger children. Also joining us every year is actor Gunner Wright, who brought a backpack full of toys for kids.

Joe Francis and his crew came dressed in full Santa attire to lend their support. In keeping with their tradition, our generous friends from JAKKS brought unwrapped toys to support the cause. The event also drew Actor J.R. Martinez who came out with his warm smile to help stuff-a-bus.

In the aftermath of the Connecticut school shooting, an ABC7 viewer felt so inspired to give back, the unidentified man stopped by Stuff-A-Bus and donated 21 bicycles with helmets.

Watch all Stuff-A-Bus video clips

You can also text "ABC7" to 80100 to donate $10 to the Spark of Love Toy Drive. The donation will appear on your mobile phone bill.

Related Photos

'Stuff-A-Bus' toy drive with Garth the Elf

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For 20 years, ABC7 and firefighters from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, along with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, have joined forces to run the Spark of Love Toy Drive. This campaign collects new, unwrapped toys and sports equipment for the under served children in our communities.

Toys collected in the respective counties are distributed locally. Last year alone, Spark of Love collected over 500,000 toys within all five counties and we want to top that total this year, so please help the firefighter's ignite a spark of love in a child's heart.

View photos from this year's Stuff-A-Bus event

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