Local nonprofit looking to collect toys for over 5,000 children in McLean county

Registration to receive toys can be made by email at [email protected] or by phone at 309-829-9476. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – The holiday season is right around the corner, and a local nonprofit organization is looking to put presents under the Christmas trees for over 5,000 children in McLean county.

Over 105 drop-box locations across the twin cities are collecting new and unwrapped toys for children 0-12-years old.

“If your in an office or a business, we encourage you to hold a toy drive over your Christmas parties or over thanksgiving,” said Troy Zeigler, McLean County Toys for Tots Coordinator. “We take that and give them to kids in McLean County.”

Toys for Tots is affiliated with the Salvation Army in Bloomington, and parents can register to receive a toy for their kid before Nov. 24.

“As a Marine, and it’s a Marine Core mission, I just can’t bare to see kids in McLean County go without a toy for Christmas,” added Zeigler. “That’s the key mission of Toys for Tots is every child deserves a good Christmas. And that’s kind of why we started it.”

In 2020, the organization collected over 11,000 toys for children in McLean county.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…