By Sara Beth Williams–
A local nonprofit that collects toys for children of military families is in great need of volunteers this year.
Toys for the Troops’ Kids kicked off its 23rd annual toy drive on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Citrus Heights, collecting new, unwrapped toys to give to children of military troops.
The toy drive, run by former Citrus Heights Mayor Bret Daniels, is continuing on, though Daniels and his family have moved out of state. Daniels said the toy drive is in desperate need of volunteers to help collect donations. Volunteers typically assist by monitoring and collecting donations at the donation site in two-hour shifts, but volunteers are welcome to stay as long as they are able.
Daniels’ wife, Nikki, said her husband, who is an Air Force veteran, launched the toy drive with several of his veteran friends 23 years ago, and she joined to help over 15 years ago. Now her adult son, who is a Marine, is also helping with the toy drive.
“It’s sentimental,” Daniels said, adding that many of the military families who receive gifts from the toy drive are from the same military units every year, and to stop the toy drive would be “sad.” Annually, different military units across the state host Christmas parties for families of veterans, and gifts are wrapped and distributed by each specific military unit.
Because her family now lives out of state, Daniels said she and her husband are handling the administrative side of the nonprofit, such as organizing and scheduling pick up and drop off of donations to various military branches.
Jay Evans, past president and co-founder of Toys for the Troops’ Kids, said Beale Air Force base would often host large Christmas parties for families where the gifts provided by the nonprofit were distributed by Santa Claus. Evans recalls the parties involving Santa Claus riding in on a U-2 spy plane, and a parade of fire trucks with other Christmas characters riding on top.
“It’s been a pleasure doing this, making a lot of little kids very, very happy,” Evans said on Wednesday while volunteering at the donation drop off location on the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane.
The nonprofit is now working with Lt. Colonel Tom Weaver of the California National Guard, who will take over next year, according to Daniels.
The collection site for the toy drive is intended to remain open Dec. 7 through Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but finding volunteers to help man the donation site has been a struggle, Daniels said. According to the group’s Facebook page, the site has had to close or only remain open for limited hours on some days because of a lack of volunteers.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys of any size can be dropped off in the Citrus Town Center parking lot at the northeast corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard in between Panera Bread and Sprouts.
Daniels said more than 500 toys have been distributed so far.
To volunteer or find out updates about the Toys for the Troops’ Kids, visit the group’s Facebook page here. The Citrus Town Center is located at 7925 Greenback Ln.
