Toys For Tots Makes Urgent Appeal For Christmas 2017

Toys for Tots issued a last-minute appeal to help meet an urgent need for toy donations in time for Christmas this year. The local campaign says it needs 10,000 additional toys to meet the needs of less fortunate kids, and only toys received by Wednesday can be hand delivered on time by Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment.

Toys are needed for both boys and girls ages 10-13, according to Toys for Tots, a program of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. The shortfall was attributed to a decline in donations and an increase in demand.

All donations should be new toys (not stuffed animals) in their original packaging. They should be left unwrapped.

You can find the nearest drop-off location by ZIP code from Toys for Tots, or drop off toys at any IHOP location in Chicago or the suburbs, including:

• Glenview, 2131 Willow Rd.
• Evanston, 100 Asbury Ave.
• Skokie, 9500 Skokie Blvd.
• Buffalo Grove, 51 McHenry Rd.
• Rosemont, 7120 N. Mannheim Rd.
• Schaumburg, 1700 E. Higgins Rd.
• Melrose Park, 1040 W. North Ave.
• Norridge, 7056 W. Forest Preserve Dr.
• Logan Square, 2818 W. Diversey Ave.
• Portage Park, 4210 N. Cicero Ave.
• West Ridge, 5929 N. Lincoln Ave.
• Cicero, 3003 S. Cicero Ave
• Bridgeview, 7240 W. 79th St.

Or donate directly to Toys for Tots Chicago. Your tax deductible donations (97 percent of them) will go to providing toys and other gifts to kids in need. Plus, the Marines have special discounted agreements with toy stores and exemptions from shipping and sales.

_{Top photo: A Marine collects toys and donations before an NFL game in 2013 | AP Photo | Mark Duncan}