Updated Dec. 16, 4:05 p.m.–
By Sara Beth Williams– A local nonprofit kicked off its 21st annual toy drive on Saturday in Citrus Heights, collecting new, unwrapped toys to give to children of military troops.
“We have already distributed hundreds of toys to the kids of our military heroes,” Toys for the Troops’ Kids President Bret Daniels told The Sentinel via email, adding that the toy drive will remain open through Dec. 23. Daniels also currently serves as Vice Mayor of Citrus Heights.
The collection site for the toy drive is scheduled to remain open seven-days-a-week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is located in the Citrus Town Center at the northeast corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard in the parking lot between Panera Bread and Sprouts. Updates are posted on the Toys for the Troops’ Kids Facebook page.
According to the group’s Facebook page, Princess Aurora will also be visiting from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 17, “to help collect toys” and volunteers will also be offering hot cocoa and Christmas treats.
Toys for the Troops’ Kids was founded in 2003 by Daniels and a men’s veterans’ group as a way to collect toys for children of military families during the holiday season. Toys are donated to military families across California, regardless of family member deployment status. According to a post from the nonprofit’s Facebook page, almost 1,500 toys were distributed last year.
