Toys to fill Palatine council chamber

The backdrop for Palatine village council discussions about anything from lawn variances to code amendments is typically all-business.

But the tone drastically changes once a year as hundreds of toys blanket council chambers, and this holiday season will be no different as Palatine's 2010 Toys for Tots campaign gets underway.

Residents, churches, homeowner associations and anyone else in the giving spirit can contribute to this year's pile by donating new, unwrapped toys. Last year, the toys collected filled three trucks.

The collection will be on display beginning Monday, Dec. 13, in the council chambers. The deadline to donate is Monday, Dec. 20. The U.S. Marine Corps will distribute the toys to children in the area.

Schools participating so far include Paddock, Marion Jordan, Lincoln, Hunting Ridge, Virginia Lake, Plum Grove, Sanborn, Sundling, Quest Academy and the Pleasant Hill Cub Scouts.

Collection boxes are located in the finance lobby and police department, both located at village hall, as well as Palatine American Legion Post 690, 122 W. Palatine Road, and Inverness Police Department, 1415 Baldwin Road.