Toys for Tots drives underway in Linn, Johnson counties

Eastern Iowa Salvation Army chapters have kicked off the annual Toys for Tots drive, working to collect thousands of toys for local families in need.

Toys are being collected for children, newborns to age 14. Lia Pontarelli, communications director for the Cedar Rapids Salvation Army, said often the not-for-profit is in need of toys for children on the older and younger end of the spectrum.

'Kids 12-14 are harder to shop for,” she said. 'Newborns are tricky too. People don't think it's quite as fun” as shopping for that middle age group.

For newborns, Pontarelli suggests staying away from clothes and instead purchasing blocks, dolls, stuffed animals, teething toys, sorting toys and bath toys. For older children, she said sporting goods such as basketballs and baseballs, jewelry, nail art, board games and puzzles make good gifts.

Registration for Linn County families-in-need closed Friday. The final tally isn't in yet on the number of registrations, she said, but she anticipates it to be similar to last year's numbers, which was more than 2,100 children.

'We haven't had a huge jump in need the last several years,” she said, adding it's possible this year's flood could impact registration numbers if families had high flood-related expenses.

Salvation Army and other area organizations are collecting toys until Dec. 9, Pontarelli said. The organization is to then distribute toys at Hawkeye Downs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12.

Here is a list of upcoming toy collection events in Linn County:

' Theisens/Fleck Toy Drive - 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 3-4 at Theisens, 3111 16th Ave. SW and 1800 51st St. NE.

' KGAN Toy Drive - 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 8 at 600 Old Marion Road NE.

' The Salvation Army - 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 9 at 1000 C Ave. NW.

For a complete list of toy drop-off locations in Linn County, visit tsacedarrapids.org.

'It's a great learning experience for kids,” Pontarelli said. 'You can take them shopping and they can pick out a toy. That's one of my favorite things.”

Trisha Smith, development director for The Salvation Army of Johnson County, said last year, more than 1,100 children in the county received 9,000 toys.

Johnson County families can register to receive gifts from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 28 through Dec. 2. at Salvation Army headquarters, 1116 S. Gilbert Court, Iowa City.

Registration also is available Nov. 28 through Dec. 1 and on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the North Liberty Community Pantry, 89 N. Jones Blvd., North Liberty. Donation hours there are as follows:

' Nov. 28 - 10 a.m. to noon.

' Nov. 29 - 10 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m.

' Nov. 30 - 10 a.m. to noon.

' Dec. 1 - 10 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m.

' Dec. 3 - 10 a.m. to noon.

Toys are to be distributed Dec. 14-16.

Smith said in addition to collecting toys, the Iowa City Salvation Army is collecting age-appropriate books.

The organization is also holding an event, dubbed 'Morning at the Movies” - sponsored by the University of Iowa Community Credit Union - where a toy donation earns guests free admission to see 'Moana,” the new Disney film. Morning at the Movies takes place at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Marcus Coral Ridge Cinema inside Coral Ridge Mall, 1451 Coral Ridge Ave., Coralville.

For a complete list of toy drop-off locations in Johnson County, visit iowa-city-ia.toysfortots.org.

l Comments: (319) 398-8331; chelsea.keenan@thegazette.com