Local
Toys for Tots barrels out now for JCI La Crosse Donations
The community is encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys and monetary donations at over 90 barrel locations throughout the region or online.
JCI La Crosse has been running the Toys For Tots program for over 80 years in the La Crosse 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, Minn. It has now started collecting new, unwrapped toys for the 2023 holiday season.
CLICK HERE for a full list of locations to drop off toys.
Over 90 collection barrels are out in the community through Dec. 3 in La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem and La Crescent.
JCI La Crosse Toys for Tots media chair, Lyndsey Langer, told Z93 that a big need this year is stuffed animals, as each child will receive one. They are also looking to focus on the older end of their child recipients, ages 10-12.
Toys for Tots cannot accept electronics like video games, but battery operated toys like RC cars are great. Items like LEGOs, Disney, Marvel, NERF, sports balls, and arts and crafts supplies are popular again this year, too.
The group has also added an Amazon wish list this year for gift ideas and community members to make purchases that are shipped directly to the program.
Langer said the Wishlist is great if “you’re not exactly sure what to look for. We give you all the ideas right on there and you can order it and it ships right to us. So that just kind of takes most of it off your plate.”
Langer added that they’re always looking for volunteers, even before distribution day.
“We have a lot of bagging days where we get the family’s orders ready for them,” she said. “There’s lots of sorting days where you just get to go through the rooms and tidy things up a little bit. There’s a lot of ways that you can help us out,” she added.
CLICK HERE to get more information and to sign up to volunteer.
SAVE THE DATE: Nov. 24 – Toy Drive at Radisson Hotel-La Crosse
Do you know a family in need? Registration will run Nov. 1–30. Families can register HERE to be a recipient of the Toys for Tots program.
NOTE: Please remember when signing up that the JCI La Crosse Toys For Tots program is only for families residing in La Crosse County or La Crescent, MN. If you live outside of these areas, please refer to your local county for assistance. We have included links to help get you started for surrounding counties. JCI La Crosse Toys for Tots program only provides toys. Clothing, food, gift cards, video games/ systems, computers, iPhones, or iPads are not provided.