Give a whole new meaning to gassing up at Total this holiday season by donating a new toy to surprise a lucky child this Christmas.  Secret Santa donations will be accepted at all Total stations in Metro Manila and Bulacan from now until December 10, 2016.

Total’s Christmas toy drive, in support of its partner NGO Project PEARLS, seeks to collect at least 3,000 new toys for schoolchildren in partner communities in Manila and Bulacan who are beneficiaries of their scholarships and feeding programs.

“Initially, we looked at organizing this as a Christmas outreach activity for TPC employees. But we knew that we could make more of a difference by opening the drive to our customers through our dealers and network of stations,” said Ana Coscolluela, TPC Corporate Communications Manager. “Christmas is for children.  We’d like to put smiles on more young faces this December.”

Donations received by December 10 will be distributed at the NGO’s annual Christmas Party for its beneficiaries.  

Founded in 2010, Project PEARLS has provided educational grants, feeding programs and educational resources to partner communities in Helping Land in Tondo, Manila, and in Barangay Batia in Bocaue, Bulacan.  The organization mentors students through an after-school program, believing that education will give underprivileged children a brighter future and allow them to break away from the vicious cycle of poverty.

Working with volunteer medical groups, they launch medical missions, opening up a health center earlier this year that provides medicines and consultation to the communities.  Birthday Programs give young children who have never celebrated their birthday the opportunity to.

Project PEARLS’ 2015 toy drive gathered over 3,500 toys for beneficiary schoolchildren with the help of its partners.