Woodland Elementary East is hosting toy drive for kids

Woodland Elementary East will host its fourth annual “Fill a Bus” toy drive to benefit the patients of Children’s Memorial Hospital.

Donations may be dropped off through May 4 at the school’s office, 17261 W. Gages Lake Road, Gages Lake.

In addition, donations will be accepted at its open house from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 2. A school bus will be parked at the school that evening for people to “fill a bus” with items.

Donation ideas include card game decks, handheld games, jewelry, bead or arts and crafts kits, Matchbox cars, cartoon figures, small Lego kits, disposable cameras and small Etch-a-Sketch or DoodlePro.

For infants ages 18 months and younger, infant/toddler crib toys, rattles and tethers are especially needed, along with baby blocks and books, rattles, stacking rings, cups, toy telephones and music boxes.

For toddlers/preschoolers ages 18 months to 4 years, ideas include cause-effect toys (make sound, light up or move with child’s action), blocks and pop-up books, Spanish language books, dolls, linking toys, Little People sets, musical toys, play food and kitchen toys and puzzles.

For children ages 5 to 12, ideas include activity books, beads, jewelry making kits and board games, books (especially Spanish language), cars and trucks, coloring books, paints, handheld games, Play-Doh Fun Factories, playing card games and science/nature model/craft kits.

For adolescents ages 13 and older, ideas include backpacks, calculators, cameras, portable CD players, handheld games, magazines, painting sets, sports paraphernalia and toiletries.

Also, portable DVD players, DVD movies (G or PG13 rating, nonviolent), nonviolent video games for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360 and GameCube and arts and crafts supplies.

For a complete list of donation ideas, the Toy Drive flier is posted on the district’s Virtual Backpack under “Elementary East,” www.dist50.net/Information/vb/Documents/annual%20school%20toy%20drive.pdf.