Toy Drive Effort Continues to Benefit Shriners Hospital

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Published on November 27 2017 10:43 am
Last Updated on November 27 2017 10:43 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Members of the Shumway, Tri-County and Stewardson Fire Protection Districts are banding together to continue the effort collecting toys for Shriners Hospital in St. Louis.

The effort began after a fire destroyed a warehouse where toys and goods were stored that were to be presented to children the hospital is helping or has helped in the past.

The three departments will converge on Lake Sara Mach 1 (Louie's Corner) this Saturday, December 2 from 8am to 1pm with fire trucks in an effort to "fill the trucks" with toys and other donations.

Beyond Saturday's event, there will also be a member of the Shumway Fire Protection District at the Lake Sara Firehouse on Park Road today until 1pm, Wednesday from 1 to 4pm, and Friday from 1 to 4pm.

There are also several area businesses collecting items including the RuralMed EMS locations in Farina, Salem and Vandalia and Milano and Grunloh Engineers on Washington Avenue in downtown Effingham.

Those wishing to donate are reminded that 50% of the patients at Shiner’s are teens between the ages of 11 and 18. Items being accepted are: board games, playing cards, hair and nail care sets/polish, jewelry/necklaces and bracelets, makeup sets/bags, bath and body sets, gift sets of shampoo and shower gel for men, professional sports teams apparel, gift cards to Walmart/Target/Fast Food, holiday items, AAA and AA batteries, musical toys, light up toys, preschool toys, dolls and barbies, character toys, brand new 12″ or smaller stuffed animals, matchbox car sets, Legos or Bionicals kits, coloring/activity books, crayons, art/activity kits, backpacks/sports bags, fleece tie blankets and small lap quilts.

Things that cannot be accepted are used toys, Beanie Babies, dollar store toys, large blankets/quilts and afghans; pillows, books/comics, trading cards, stamps, greeting cards, large ride-on toys, notebooks, paper, scissors, erasers, medical equipment or clothing.

The outpouring support of the local community has already begun to show, as RuralMed has already received more than they could have thought was possible when they began accepting donations. Therefore, following Saturday’s event, all of the local donations will be brought together and loaded into a large box truck or semi to send down to St. Louis so the Shriners organization will be able to distribute to the kids for their Christmas activities they had in place prior to the fire.