Christmas Toy Box collections begin Tuesday; giveaway Dec. 17

McCOOK, Neb. — Southwest Nebraska’s and Northwest Kansas’ 41st annual “Christmas Toy Box” begins Tuesday with the collection of new and gently used toys, dolls, books and games.

The Toy Box event is for those with a need, and a desire to make a child’s Christmas brighter. The Toy Box giveaway will be Sunday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m., at McCook Memorial Auditorium at the corner of West Fifth and C streets.

There are residency requirements for shoppers, according to Barb Ostrum of McCook, the Toy Box’s “Head Elf.” “The Toy Box is supported by the generous people of our area, and it’s our responsibility to use their resources wisely in turn to help children who live within this same area,” Barb said.

Proof of address will be required for shoppers (18 years old and over), and they must be residents of these counties:

In Nebraska: Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, Frontier, Red Willow and Furnas counties.

In Kansas: Decatur, Rawlins, Cheyenne and Norton counties.

A picture identification will also be required. Shoppers are asked not to bring boxes and bags.

No unaccompanied children will be allowed.

Toy collection

Look for the specially-decorated trash receptacles located outside at Orscheln’s Farm & Home, Dollar General, McCook Christian Church and Walmart in McCook into which to place donations for the Toy Box. Toy Box elves ask that puzzles and toys with lots of individual pieces be bagged separately so that pieces don’t get lost.

Toys deposited in these outside locations are collected each evening, however, elves ask that batteries be removed because they freeze and ruin toys, and items that can freeze, such as snow globes, be taken to indoor drop-offs.

Inside drop-off locations are McCook National Bank, First Central Bank, Eakes Office Supply and the McCook Toy Box at 113 East C, all in McCook; and Adams Bank & Trust in Indianola.

Monetary donations are always welcome, Barb said, and are used to purchase batteries, or, in the case of the Toy Box’s bike shop, repair parts for the bikes and trikes. Donations can be mailed to Barb at the McCook office of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, 108 West C, McCook, NE 69001.