Operation: Toy Box, now in its 29th year, is collecting toys for needy families in the Montgomery County area.
The annual toy drive began with the help of Dave and Gloria Long working along with the Delta Theta Tau sorority. In 2020, the Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club took over the operation and is now in its second year of facilitating the toy drive.
Operation: Toy Box partners with the REINdear program administered by the Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau. The YSB furnishes toy drive organizers with the names of eligible families.
Signs have been posted at various collection sites, including Stevenson’s Ace Hardware, Christi Hubler Chevrolet, Chase Bank, York Automotive, the Journal Review and numerous other locations. New, unwrapped toys for children ages infant to 15 years of age can be dropped off at any collection site.
Toy donations will be collected Dec. 16 by Indiana National Guard members and then distribution Dec. 19 to eligible families.
Last year, the toy drive served 50 families and more than 100 children. With the help of community members, organizers hope to reach even more children this year.
The goal of the toy drive is to provide one new toy under the tree for area children.
“The Crawfordsville Kiwanis Club is all about children and this program fits right in with our goals,” said Jacob Moore, club president. “No child should be left without a new toy for Christmas.”
