Have a Wonderful Watch Party…and Bring a Toy!

WGAW members are invited to enjoy some holiday cheer in the company of fellow members at the Writers Guild Theater, and who better to help usher in the spirit of the season than the Bailey family? 

Holiday party attendees may bring a donation of a new and unwrapped toy to benefit the L.A. County Department of Public Social Services’ (DPSS) Toy Loan program. Photo: DPSS Photo/Temo Reyes.

The Guild’s Holiday Movie Watch Party on Saturday, Dec. 13, will feature food and drink in the lobby of the theater along with a screening of the 1946 holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life (screenplay by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and Frank Capra with special material written by Jo Swerling based on the short story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern.)

The event is open to all WGAW members plus one guest. All attendees must be 18 years or older.

Attendees are encouraged to dress festive for the occasion. Doors will open at 6 p.m. followed by the screening at 7 p.m. The party will feature an open bar, and attendees can continue the merriment after the screening, until 10 p.m. RSVP to attend.

To help spread the joy of the season, the Guild is asking movie-goers for donations of a new and unwrapped toy to benefit the L.A. County Department of Public Social Services’ (DPSS) Toy Loan program, a 501c3 nonprofit that allows children to borrow toys as they would take out books from a library. Donations are optional, and are not required for admission.

The first Toy Loan Center opened in Manchester Park in 1935. In the ensuing years, more facilities opened throughout the county bringing the number of centers to more than 50 at its peak. Currently, DPSS operates 24 Toy Loan Centers in parks, schools, community centers and early education centers. 

“We’re working with different organizations who already have a base of children visiting to open up those Toy Loan Centers and provide children—regardless of their income—access to toys,” said Liliana Ramirez, director of the Toy Loan program.

The Toy Loan program encourages donations of popular toys such as non-electronic musical instruments (toy drums, guitars, flutes). Science and math-themed toys and board games are also in demand along with arts and crafts and Legos.

“Things like magnet tiles and board games are good because we really want to promote families spending time together or teenagers spending time with friends,” Ramirez said. “Those are some of the requests from parents or people who are in the educational field. And then when we listen to the children, they want a little bit of the opposite, like the RC cars. Children love to have toys that can keep their hands busy.”

Toy Loan accepts donations year-round. Learn more and donate.