Now 15, Mesai Alonsabe continues helping others with Vallejo event taking place Saturday at Java Jax
Mesai Alonsabe brings in donated toys to be sorted during a past Mesai’s Merry Toy Drive at Java Jax in Vallejo. (Chris Riley–Times-Herald file)
Mesai Alonsabe has grown as a person a lot in the last nine years since he was a 6-year-old. His toy drive has become even bigger.
For the ninth year Alonsabe will be hosting the annual Mesai’s Merry Toy Drive this Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Java Jax on Sonoma Boulevard.
“More than ever, our kids in need, need to know how much they are loved and cared for,” Alonsabe said on his event’s Facebook page. “It’s been a rough year for us all, but sharing a toy with a child in need for the holidays would brighten their year… And for you – would surely fill your soul! I hope you can continue to support my my cause and donate toys for our local kids just need.”
Alonsabe first began helping out others when he was 6 with an idea to help however he could.
“My mom was making a list and I had the wildest idea and a thought to just help out,” Alonsabe said. “I wrote down a few ideas to try and help out the community and I wrote down, ‘Toy Drive.’ I thought I could help some children out with have some toys and unwrapped gifts given out.”
The first toy drive included a few friends of Alonsabe as well as the Vallejo Fire Department. It’s moved from there to Riverbank in Vallejo to the last five years at Java Jax.
Alonsabe’s first list he made when starting his toy drive nine years ago at the age of 6. (Courtesy Photo)
“Java Jax is a good location because there is so much foot traffic there,” Mesai’s mother, Michelle Davis-Alonsabe said. “People stop by that area knowing about the toy drive but a lot of people also stop by that didn’t know about it beforehand that want to contribute. They go right back into downtown to shop for something for the kids and say, ‘I’ll be right back.’
“Any small gesture is actually really huge,” Michelle continued. “It’s not only a big act for the child, but the child’s entire family because maybe they couldn’t afford something and now we’re taking care of that for them. I think a lot of people want to help, but they don’t have a starting point. We tell them, ‘We’ll be your standing and ending point because we distribute to so many people.”
Michelle also said that Lisa Gutierrez-Wilson – who dresses up as the Grinch each Christmas, is also a big factor.
“Yeah she’s a great Grinch and she draws a lot of attention as well,” Michelle said, with a laugh. “She does a great job of reeling people in to our location.”
Mesai said he’s never counted how many toys that have been donated, but estimated it’s in the thousands. Over the years the type of toys has ranged from plushies (stuffed animals), Nerf materials, baseballs, footballs, basketball, board games, dolls, etc. Mesai said the first gift ever donated was a Barbie doll.
“This has gone from just a few dozen toys to thousands and it basically fills up our whole house,” Mesai said. “We get online orders from all over, both locally and as far as the East Coast.”
Both Mesai and Michelle said that a lot of the East Coast orders came through Michelle’s brother, Romeo O. Alonsabe Jr., who sadly died in 2020 due COVID-19.
Despite the setback, Mesai said he wants to continue the toy drive for the rest of his life and that it’s not going anywhere.
“I’m just happy when I can bring a smile to a child’s face,” Mesai said. “It’s easily my favorite part of the year. When I see that’s all you need to do to help make another child happy it makes me want to pass this on for generations. It’s a blessing to know you’re doing something right and good in the community.”
Java Jax is located at 1700 Sonoma Boulevard.
Mesai Alonsabe is back hosting Mesai’s Merry Toy Drive in the Java Jax parking lot this Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bring new, unwrapped gifts. (Rich Freedman/Times-Herald file)