Clayton couple gearing up for holiday toy drive

During the holidays, Clayton resident Mike Banducci and his family always donated generously to local toy drives. But Banducci knew for many years that he wanted to do more.

Mike and his wife Christine hosted the first Great Clayton Toy Giveaway last year, and they joined friends and community members this Oct. 20 for a fundraiser at Oakhurst Country Club. The sold-out event included dinner for 120 and music by Clayton band Plan B.

This year’s drive has already raised nearly $10,000. Using his industry discounts, Banducci will purchase two to three times the retail value worth of toys and games. Toys will include classics like board games, Play Doh and Hot Wheels, along with Pokemon and “Star Wars” themed toys, Disney princesses and Barbies.

The toy drive will distribute donations by the truckload to several charities, including Children’s Hospital of Oakland, Christmas for Everyone, Bay Alarm’s Toys for Tots and the Dylan Mitchell Memorial Toy Drive for Foster Kids.

Banducci has worked with Hasbro, Mattel, Pokemon and specialty manufacturers. His current business, R&M Distributors, has been warehoused in Concord since 2004.

“I started in the toy industry in 1986 with my dad, who was a toy industry sales rep,” says Banducci, who also owned Toys, Game & More in downtown Clayton.

“I enjoy the customers, manufacturers and sales reps I work with,” he adds. “It is an older school industry with generations of family involvement.”

Clayton resident Jennifer Jay, a neighbor of the Banduccis for 20 years, is a supporter of the drive.

“The people who have attended the first two years are mostly Clayton friends and their families who live around here, our neighbors, which is nice,” she says. “When Mike and Christine are up there speaking about the passion of where this all going to, it’s very moving.”

“It is always heartwarming and rewarding when the community comes together to care for those less fortunate,” says Christine Banducci.

Cash donations will be accepted until Dec. 1. Send to the Great Clayton Toy Giveaway, P.O. Box 161, Clayton, CA 94517.