After a tour of the Children's Hospital respiratory therapy unit in 1999, do-gooder Silvia Tapia says her "...heart opened to all the sick kids. Walking into that place changes your life. Your worries, my worries are nothing compared to those kids' worries or problems." 

Eleven years have passed since Tapia first saw what a difference it makes to those kids in the hospital, and their parents, to receive Christmas gifts.

"To see the drive that these children have to live life is incredible," Tapia shares. "I decided to do a toy drive to help Santa make those children smile even more and help their parents."

Inspired, Silvia Tapia adopted the name Santa Silvia and has reappeared each winter since, collecting toys for the brave kids spending Christmas in the hospital each holiday season. For the last five years Santa Silvia toy drives were held at El Gaucho Tacoma, where Tapia was employed.

No longer working at the steakhouse, a new home for Santa Silvia was needed. Tapia reached out to long-time friend and owner of Varsity Grill, Jon Tartaglia, who quickly agreed to host the toy drop-off location this year.

The cherry on top this year for those who pitch in: Besides that warm fuzzy feeling you get knowing you're helping people in need (and more importantly, kids), Varsity Grill is offering a voucher for 50 percent off an appetizer for every unwrapped gift donated (one per person, don't be greedy). Santa Silvia is not affiliated with any company or non-profit, nor is her toy-drive sponsored by one. Tapia organizes, supervises and carries out the effort on her own.

Santa Silvia collects toys for toddlers to teenagers at the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital ER. The presents will be delivered to the hospital in person on Christmas Eve. Tapia hopes Santa will accompany her again this year. Toys need to be new, non-toxic and unwrapped. Beginning directly after Thanksgiving and running through the month of December, collection days and times at Varsity Grill are as follows: Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

[Varsity Grill, 1114 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.627.1229]