From now through Dec. 6, Sierra Forest Products, Chicago, will be sponsoring the annual Joey's Afterglow Toy Drive.

The drive was started in honor of Joey, son of Joe Ventimiglia, Sierra Forest Products' vice president, Midwest & Lake States USA. Joey "earned his angel wings on January 5, 2018, just shy of his eighth birthday." 

Joey lost a valiant battle against DIPG, a rare pediatric brain cancer, and the toy drive was created to help spread kindness in his memory. Help honor his bright spirit this season by joining Sierra Products Chicago in his annual holiday toy drive and "sharing his light with others." 

“It is that time of year again!," wrote Joe Ventimiglia. "We are collecting toys in memory and honor of Joey and we hope to continue our mission to spread Joey’s Afterglow this holiday season."

Ventimiglia wants this to be the most successful drive as he announced that this will be the last toy drive "so we hope to make it the best. We need your help!!" Last year we collected 3 truck loads of toys. 

This year, he said that they are donating all of the toys to the WGN Morning News Toy Drive, a drive sponsored by a local TV station in Chicago. WGN's toy collection drive will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. CST.

"This year, WGN will be donating the toys to the Off The Street Club and Christmas in the Wards, which are both in Chicago. We would love to spread Joey’s Afterglow to as many kids as possible!"

If you would like to participate in the Toy Drive, send new and unwrapped toys by Tuesday, Dec. 3 to:

Sierra Forest Products 
1801 W. Hawthorne Lane
Suite 400
West Chicago, IL 60185
Attn: Joe Ventimiglia 

Please share this post and follow Joeys Afterglow on Instagram and Facebook for more information, updates, the link to a Amazon Wish List, and past years’ donations.

"Thank you for helping honor our son, spreading the light and love that was Joey," said Ventimiglia.