West Hollywood’s annual Toy and Food Drive is in full swing, and one local business is stepping in to help give the effort an extra boost. The Collective is hosting a silent auction this Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at its real estate office at 8278 1/2 Santa Monica Boulevard. The goal is simple. Raise money, gather gift cards, and bring the community together for a cause that matters every holiday season.

In addition to bidding on donated items, guests are encouraged to bring a gift card for a teen or a grocery gift card for families who could use a little extra support this year. The Collective will also feature new work from two local artists, Andrew Max Modlin and Tom Sweetser, both bringing very different but equally eye-catching styles to the space.

     Image courtesy of: Andrew Max Modlin
Image courtesy of: Tom Sweetser

Modlin, a Los Angeles–based artist and UCLA graduate, creates work that blends the digital with the organic. A co-founder of MedMen, he helped design more than fifty flagship retail spaces before returning to painting full-time. His pieces often start as quick iPad sketches that evolve into textured canvases layered with bold color, digital motifs, and expressive brushwork — a study in the push and pull between technology and touch, nostalgia and now. (maxmodlin.com)

Sweetser, also based in Los Angeles, works in vibrant acrylics that channel Southern California’s sun-drenched highways, classic cars, and mid-century lines. With a BFA in New Media Design & Imaging from Rochester Institute of Technology, he merges bold color and clean graphic shapes to create cinematic snapshots — the kind that sit somewhere between memory and fantasy. His work appears in private collections across the country. (tomsweetserart.com)

Their pieces will be on display and available for purchase, and with champagne in hand, the evening becomes a mix of fundraising, art, and neighborhood connection — a gallery-style event that gives attendees a chance to discover local talent up close.

Anyone interested in donating an auction item can email anthony@thecollectiverealty.com.
You can RSVP to the event here.


All proceeds benefit the City of West Hollywood’s Toy and Food Drive, now in its 36th year. The Drive supports local families by providing toys, essentials, and holiday gift cards. Every 100 dollars helps one family directly, and the City notes that a donation of 1,000 dollars can support up to 10 families. Donations can be made online here.

For anyone who prefers to give in person, new unwrapped toys and 30 dollar gift cards to stores like Pavilions, Ralphs, Trader Joe’s, and Target are greatly needed. Beginning Monday, November 17, collection bins will be placed at several City facilities, including West Hollywood Park Aquatic and Recreation Center, Plummer Park, City Hall, the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, and the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Several hotels are joining the effort as well. Collection bins will be available at 1 Hotel West Hollywood, Andaz West Hollywood, Le Parc at Melrose, The London West Hollywood, and the Chateau Marmont just outside the City’s border on Sunset.

For more information about the Toy and Food Drive, residents can contact the City’s Recreation Services Division at nmignon@weho.org or mgiovannetti@weho.org, or call (323) 848-6321 or (323) 848-6534.

If you can make it on Thursday, swing by the silent auction, check out the art, bring a card, and help make the season a little brighter for families who could use the support.

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