Dole Institute to host Toys for Tots ‘Drive for 500’ event
The public is invited to donate a toy and enjoy a free lunch when the Dole Institute of Politics hosts the Douglas County Toys for Tots “Drive for 500” event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11.
The Toys for Tots committee hopes to collect 500 new toys at the event
to distribute to area children. Members of the community are invited
to drop by the Dole Institute, adjacent to the Lied Center, with a toy
donation and to enjoy live entertainment and grilled hot dogs, chips
and soda provided by Hy-Vee, 4000 W. Sixth St. People who donate a toy
or money will be registered to win door prizes, including a year of free
cable from Sunflower Broadband.
Other prizes include a free Sunday brunch for two at Alvamar, a $50 gift
certificate from the Hereford House and a $50 gift from Pachamama’s.
This is the second year for the drive, which brought in almost 600 toys
last year.
WIBW 94 Country will broadcast live from the Dole Institute from 10 a.m.
to noon. Live music from the Sleeping Dogs, a two-man guitar and mandolin
group, will start at noon. Googols of Fun also will provide free activities
for children. A silent auction will feature such items as two tickets
to the KU-Missouri basketball game and a birthday party at Googols of
Fun.
“
It’s just a really fun day and a good way for us to raise toys,” said
Mary Jones, one of the local coordinators on the Toys for Tots committee.
Toys for Tots is a program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve that
collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes those toys as Christmas
gifts to needy children in the community.