La Crosse Jaycees Toys for Tots’ barrels out now, plus toy drive this weekend

JCI La Crosse has been running the Toys For Tots program for over 80 years in our area, creating holiday cheer for over 1,000 children each year.

The program helps provide toys to children 12 and under in La Crosse County and La Crescent, MN. They are collecting new, unwrapped toys for children in our community now for the 2022 holiday season.

The toy barrels are out now at nearly 90 different locations until December 1. You can CLICK HERE to find the full list of locations to drop off toys.

This Saturday, November 19, is their big “Stuff The Truck” toy drive. Volunteers will be outside of the La Crosse Center from 8 a.m. til 4 p.m. collecting toys and cash for the program.

JCI La Crosse Toys for Tots Media Chair, Lyndsey Langer, told Z93 one of the biggest requests this year is sports balls. “I was really excited about that, there’s no batteries involved!”

Toys for Tots cannot accept electronics like video games, but battery operated toys like RC cars are great. Items like LEGOs, Disney, Marvel, NERF, and arts and crafts supplies are popular again this year, too.

Registration for families requesting toys is open through November 30 online.

On KQ98’s “Mornings with Tony’, Langer said kids often don’t know the stress people go through. “It’s so nice to be able to give back and take something off someone who’s stressed out and let their kids have a happy Christmas.”

Volunteers are always needed, especially for barrel pick up and sorting toys for distribution. Langer said it takes a village to pull this off.

“It’s a great undertaking and there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff that the community can help with if they’re able,” Langer said.

Community members able to volunteer can sign up HERE.