Fox Valley Toys for Tots back on track
After a bleak start to the Aurora area's Toys for Tots campaign, organizers say donations have risen markedly in recent days and there will be many happy children after all.
In early December, when donations typically ramp up, Fox Valley Park District police Sgt. Jim Christenson said donations were lagging and he worried that the sagging economy would keep them from improving.
On Thursday, though, he said those numbers have turned around - thanks in part to newspaper publicity.
"I didn't know what I was going to do a few weeks ago," said Christenson, who has led the district's Marine Toys for Tots unit for several years. "But I'm going to hit at least 1,000 toys because the last week has been amazing. We've been picking up toys all over the place."
While the number is still down from the nearly 3,000 items the group has distributed to needy children in and around Aurora in recent years, 1,000 toys is several hundred more than Christenson thought he would have.
"With the economy, everyone is going to have a lighter Christmas and we get that, so some of this was expected," he said. "But this recent inpouring shows us that folks are just taking care of necessities first and then started filling our boxes."
Area firefighters, police officers and Santa Claus will load the toys onto an Aurora fire truck at noon Monday at Aurora Fire Station No. 12, 2424 Hafenricter Road, before Santa delivers them to children who have been referred by teachers and counselors.
Toys are still being accepted at area drop boxes and Christenson asked that donators consider dropping off items that children ages 7 through 14 would enjoy, including footballs, soccer balls, skateboards, games, purses and small electronics.
FYI
You may contribute items to the Fox Valley Toys for Tots program through the weekend at several locations in Aurora, Geneva and Montgomery. Unwrapped new toys may be dropped off at these locations:
Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora; Eola Community Center, 555 S. Eola Road, Aurora; Vaughan Athletic Center, 2121 W. Indian Trail, Aurora; Orchard Valley Golf Course and Restaurant, 2411 W. Illinois Ave., Aurora; Fox Valley Park District administrative offices, 712 S. River St., Aurora; and the Fox Valley Park District police station, 1460 SE River Road, Montgomery.
Toys also may be dropped off at the Aurora Police Department, 350 N. River St.; any Aurora fire station; Aurora city hall, 44 E. Downer Place; Aurora Central Catholic High School, 1255 N. Edgelawn Drive, Aurora; and the Kane County sheriff's office, 777 E. Fabyan Parkway, Geneva.