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Kolb Family Automotive Holding Launches Year-Long Christmas Toy Drive

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  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. ding-launches-year-long-christmas-toy-drive.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 14:02 GMT by The Daily News Online

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Kolb Family Automotive Holding’s Holiday Gift‑Giving Initiative: A Comprehensive Summary

The Daily News Online reports on a heart‑warming community effort spearheaded by Kolb Family Automotive Holding (KFAH), a long‑established local dealership group that has been serving the Central Valley for over five decades. In an article dated November 18, 2023, the publication chronicles KFAH’s annual Christmas Toy Drive, detailing its origins, operational logistics, community impact, and the company’s vision for a future in which every child receives a holiday gift.

1. The Genesis of the Toy Drive

The article opens with a brief history of KFAH, noting that the company was founded by the Kolb family in 1975 and has since expanded to include multiple locations across the county. In the early 2000s, then‑CEO Marlene Kolb, who grew up watching her siblings struggle to find toys during the holiday season, decided to address this gap by launching a corporate charity initiative. The drive officially began in 2002, and over the past 21 years it has evolved from a modest “toy collection” into a fully organized event that mobilizes thousands of donors and volunteers.

A key detail highlighted in the article is that the toy drive is officially named the “Kolb Family Automotive Holding Christmas Toy Drive” and is the largest single‑day donation collection event in the region. Marlene’s original vision was simple: “Give children the joy of a present, and give parents the comfort that every child in our community has something to open on Christmas morning.” The article quotes her: “We’re not just selling cars; we’re building a culture of giving.”

2. How the Drive Works

The Daily News Online outlines the practical mechanics of the drive, which is structured around a series of collection points and a distribution phase that takes place at the end of December.

a. Collection Sites

• Dealership Locations – All five KFAH dealerships host donation stations on Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3, 2023. The article notes the convenience of these sites, pointing out that customers can drop off toys while waiting for service or after test‑driving a vehicle.
• Community Centers & Schools – The company partners with three local community centers and four elementary schools to set up mobile donation bins. The article mentions that the schools schedule “Toy Drive Days” during lunch periods, encouraging students to bring in new, unwrapped toys.
• In‑House Collection – KFAH’s headquarters in the city center hosts a “Toy Drop‑Off Zone” that operates Monday‑Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to catch last‑minute donations.

b. Donation Guidelines

The article lists the specific eligibility criteria for donated toys, ensuring quality and safety for recipients:

1. New or almost new – Toys must be in original packaging or wrapped in plastic.
2. Appropriate age – Items should be rated for the intended age group (the article notes that most donors are careful to check “Age 3‑12” stickers).
3. No broken parts – All electronic toys must be fully functional.
4. No food or medicine – These items are not accepted.

Volunteers are trained to inspect each toy upon arrival. The article includes an anecdote where a volunteer mistakenly accepted a broken doll, only to correct the mistake during the vetting process.

c. Sorting & Distribution

After the 48‑hour collection window closes, a dedicated team of KFAH employees and volunteers sorts the toys by age group and category. The article notes that sorting is done in a refrigerated warehouse to ensure that any perishable toys (like plush toys that might have a scent) remain in optimal condition. The sorted inventory is then shipped to three partner charities:

• Happy Children’s Foundation – distributes toys directly to families in need.
• The Salvation Army – operates a “Christmas Eve Toy Drop” in the downtown area.
• Local Shelters – receive a set of toys for children staying overnight.

The article also mentions that KFAH has begun using a barcode system to track each toy from drop‑off to delivery, a feature they say was added in 2021 to improve transparency.

3. The Impact

A key part of the article is dedicated to quantifying the impact of the toy drive. The piece cites statistics from the past five years:

• 2023: 8,400 toys collected and distributed to 4,200 families.
• 2019 (pre‑pandemic): 9,100 toys.
• 2020: 3,200 toys, a reduction attributed to COVID‑19 restrictions.

Marlene Kolb attributes the rebound in 2021 to the company’s “hybrid volunteer model,” where staff members can join remotely and contribute through digital promotion of the drive. The article quotes a spokesperson from the Happy Children’s Foundation who says, “We’ve seen a noticeable uptick in toys for families that otherwise struggle to afford even the basics. It’s a life‑changing difference.”

The article also features a short video (link embedded) showing children opening their gifts on Christmas Day, emphasizing the emotional payoff for the program. It also highlights the corporate social responsibility aspect, pointing out that KFAH’s initiative has garnered recognition from the local Chamber of Commerce for its “Outstanding Community Service.”

4. Volunteer Opportunities & Corporate Participation

The Daily News Online includes a call to action, encouraging readers to get involved. There are several avenues to volunteer:

1. Toy Sorting Shift – Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
2. Delivery Assistance – Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3. Social Media Promotion – “Tag, share, and tag” campaigns to boost awareness.

The article emphasizes that KFAH’s staff is actively involved, with the sales and service teams integrating toy drive promotions into their daily interactions with customers. For instance, sales associates offer a 5% discount on selected vehicles to customers who bring in a toy for donation. The article also highlights that the company encourages employees to bring a “toy‑giving pledge” signed on the day of the drive.

5. Looking Forward: Next‑Year Plans

In a brief future‑looking segment, the article covers KFAH’s plans for 2024. Marlene Kolb has announced a partnership with a major toy manufacturer, which will provide “free-of-charge” toy boxes for families unable to afford them. She also mentions an expansion of the donation window by an additional 12 hours to accommodate more donors.

Furthermore, the company is exploring a “Digital Toy Drive” platform, where donors can pre‑order a toy on the company’s website, pay a small fee to cover shipping, and receive a confirmation email. The article says this will allow for a “zero‑waste” approach, ensuring that all toys collected are utilized.

6. Conclusion

The Daily News Online’s comprehensive coverage of Kolb Family Automotive Holding’s Christmas Toy Drive paints a vivid picture of a well‑coordinated, community‑centric initiative. By combining clear operational logistics, strategic partnerships, and a genuine commitment to giving, KFAH has transformed a single‑day event into a multi‑year tradition that benefits thousands of families each holiday season. The article ends with a powerful reminder: “When a car company takes a small step toward giving, it drives hope for an entire community.”

Through the drive, KFAH demonstrates that corporate responsibility need not be separate from business—rather, it can be an integral part of a company’s identity, reinforcing brand loyalty while delivering tangible, life‑changing gifts to those in need.