Catholic Charities Emergency Services, in conjunction with the Valhalla Detachment of the U.S. Marine Corps League, is once again sponsoring the St. Cloud Area Toys for Tots program to help ensure no child goes without a gift at Christmastime. Last year, St. Cloud Toys for Tots distributed 11,285 toys to 2,208 children.
New, unwrapped toys are currently being collected for children, up to age 16, in drop boxes throughout St. Cloud, Waite Park, Sauk Rapids, Sartell, St. Joseph, Rice, Royalton, St. Augusta, Collegeville and Cold Spring. Due to COVID-19, Catholic Charities prefers that toys are placed in these drop boxes, which are coordinated by Marine Corps League members. A list of the drop-off sites can be found on the St. Cloud Catholic Charities website at https://www.ccstcloud.org.
Online donations may also be made to the local Marine Toys for Tots Campaign listed on the Catholic Charities website. Donations are used to shop for items that the program may be short of for certain age groups, according to the local Marine Corps Toys for Tots coordinator Bob Ringstrom.
Toy distribution for families begins Thursday, Dec. 10. Families must register online before Friday, Dec. 4, with forms found on the Catholic Charities website. For more information regarding the application process, call Catholic Charities Emergency Services at 320-229-4560.
Feature photo: Adobe stock photos.