Vallarta Market Holiday Toy Tradition Continues

Vallarta Market in Northwest Pasadena, held its fifth annual holiday toy drive Saturday, since it opened its location on Fair Oaks Avenue in 2017.

Angelo Cruz, store director, told Pasadena Now that the store, one of  more than 20 Vallarta Southern California locations, hoped to distribute more than 300 toys to local children during the Saturday event.

Children received a toy and a sweet, along with a personal visit with Santa Claus.

There was a sampling of Vallarta’s in-house bakery with mini conchas and champurrado – a delicious chocolatey beverage perfect for the holiday season.

“It’s our way of giving back to the community,” Cruz said.

Angela Villasenor, a regular Vallarta shopper, visited the event with her two sons, Mario, 7, and Luis, 9.  The toy giveaway was a welcome event, she said.

‘Everything is harder this year, as you know,” she said, in Spanish. “Things like this make it all a little easier.”