By Sara Beth Williams–
A toy drive put on by Toys for the Troops’ Kids is now underway in Citrus Heights.
Toys for the Troops’ Kids is seeking toys for children of military families and will be accepting donations now until Dec. 22.
Toys for the Troops’ Kids was founded in 2003 by Bret Daniels and a men’s veterans group as a way to collect toys for children of military families during the holiday season.
During an interview with The Sentinel, Daniels, who was recently appointed as vice mayor of Citrus Heights and is also president of Toys for the Troops’ Kids, said the initial idea was to help families of deployed troops in the years following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack. The toy drive now donates to military families across California, regardless of family member deployment status.
Volunteers are set up in front of two sheds on the northeast corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane, ready to accept toy donations in the parking lot between Panera Bread and Sprouts.
“Over the life of the toy drive, we’ve collected and distributed over 150,000 toys,” Daniels said, adding that the reception so far this year has been good. Daniels reported the organization receives roughly 2,000 toys annually, and that donations increase throughout the toy drive.
Toys for the Troops’ Kids has already delivered 400 toys and will continue to deliver more throughout the 13-day drive, with plans to deliver a large number to Travis Air Force Base this week.
Toys for the Troops’ Kids is asking for new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. The toy drive donation center is in the Citrus Town Center parking lot and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Updates are posted on the Toys for the Troops’ Kids Facebook page.
