How to Help: Toys for Tots
Collection sites are springing up for toy donations.
On this Veterans Day weekend, Patch wanted to highlight the humanitarian work of the military, specifically the work of the U.S. Marines.
The Toys for Tots campaign is organized by local Marines and provides toys to children that may not have a Christmas holiday.
According to Toys for Tots, since 1947, the campaign has provided toys to more than 200 million needy children.
In the past three years alone, the St. Louis area Toys for Tots campaign - which includes St. Charles County - has steadily increased toy collections and monetary donations each year by eight to nine percent. In 2010, toys were distributed to more than 195,000 area children and the campaign collected over $225,000 to purchase additional toys.
The Toys for Tots campaign has zero administrative expenses, according to its web site, and 100 percent of each dollar donated goes right back into assisting children in need.
In St. Charles, the Chamber of Commerce is holding a Santa Dash run on Saturday, Dec. 10, to raise funds and toys for Toys for Tots. The registration deadline for the event is Nov. 23 — no race day applications will be accepted.
The event features a 5K run, a one-mile walk, holiday spirits and Christmas shopping.
For those wanting to purchase a gift for a needy child while out and about, Patch has compiled a list of venues hosting Toys for Tots drop-off boxes. Know of another location in St. Charles County? Please tell us in the comments.
Toy collection has already begun. Other important dates are as follows:
- Dec. 5 – First day of toy distribution
- Dec. 19 – Final day to request toys
- Dec. 22 – Last day to pick up toys
| Drop-Off Point | City | Phone | Email Address |
| Bottoms Up Brewhouse | O'Fallon | 636-240-9218 | |
| Charlie's Farm & Home | Wentzville | 636-327-6267 | dndooley28@yahoo.com |
| Cub Scout Pack 989 | St. Charles | 314-393-7795 | wilmahamm1961@yahoo.com |
| Ecological Specialists | O'Fallon | 636-281-1982 | |
| Ethyl's Smokehouse & Saloon | O'Fallon | 636-978-7755 | |
| Fink Chiropractic | Cottleville | 636-922-0777 | j_dryden@charter.net |
| First Capitol Chiropractic | St. Charles | 636-946-7777 | drmarkholland@hotmail.com |
| Fridley Chiropractic | Wentzville | 636-332-1769 | jennifer@drfridley.com |
| Great Clips | St. Peters | 314-322-3773 | aly5402@yahoo.com |
| J. Noto Bakery | St. Charles | 636-949-0800 | Jasper@JNoto.com |
| Keller Williams Realty | St. Charles | 314-517-5104 | Jeff@JeffFellows.com |
| Marine Solutions | St. Charles | 636-262-5686 | eric@ericbacon.com |
| Playtime Party Center | Wentzville | 636-887-4244 | |
| Runge Chiropractic | Wentzville | 636-327-4446 | lockeytina@yahoo.com |
| Starbucks | Wentzville | ||
| Stefanina's Pizzeria | O'Fallon | 636-272-3499 | |
| The Villages at Homefield | O'Fallon | 636-294-4860 | jessica@homefieldvillages.com |
| Toys 'R' Us | St. Peters | 636-397-5000 | |
| Weight Watchers | Cottleville | 314-610-9126 | connie@wirecraftco.com |
Do you know of an organization we should highlight?
Tell us in the comments.
In This article
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Charlie's Farm & Home Center
1583 W Pearce Blvd, Wentzville, MO -
Fridley Chiropractic
1126 W Pearce Blvd, Wentzville, MO -
Playtime Party Center
1225 Wentzville Pkwy, Wentzville, MO -
Runge Chiropractic
1000 Corporate Pky, Wentzville, MO -
Bottoms Up Brewhouse
2693 Highway K, O Fallon, MO -
Ecological Specialists, Inc.
1417 Hoff Industrial Ctr, O Fallon, MO
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Ethyl's Smokehouse & Saloon
8505 Veterans Memorial Pky, O Fallon, MO -
First Capitol Chiropractic & Rehab
605 1st Capitol Dr, Saint Charles, MO -
Marine Solutions
20 Triad South Dr, Saint Charles, MO -
Starbucks
1877 Wentzville Pkwy, Wentzville, MO -
Stefanina's Pizzeria & Restaurant
8645 Veterans Memorial Pky, O Fallon, MO -
Toys "R" US
5821 Suemandy Rd, Saint Peters, MO
Aja J. Junior
12:20 pm on Monday, November 14, 2011
I remember my local Boys and Girls Club helping with this cause each year when I was growing up.
I believe that I gave two or three Barbie dolls to the collection, and it made me feel good to be a kid helping another kid.
It's a really good cause.