500 Toys Donated During OFPD 'Fill the Squad' Drive

Photo: City of Oak Forest

The weather conditions were in the high 30s, with rain, and 16 mph winds, but that did not stop Oak Forest residents from coming out to Walgreens on 159th Street on Friday, November 27 to donate to the Fill the Squad toy drive.

Volunteers from the Oak Forest Police Department, 2D Battalion / 24th Marines, and 101.9 FM The Mix collected toys in support of the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. During the 2014 toy drive, the police department received 402 toys. This year, the department collected 496 toys – making it the biggest Fill the Squad toy drive to date.

“We want to thank everyone who came out to support this event,” said Sergeant Scott Durano, who spearheads the Toys for Tots campaign for the department. “We also want to thank the Walgreens for hosting this one-day event. Nearly 250 children in the Cook County area will benefit from this drive alone.”

The police department will be collecting toys at City Hall and other locations in Oak Forest through December 16. If you would like to donate a toy and cannot make it City Hall, please call 708-687-4050, ext. 1239 or email Sdurano@Oak-Forest.org to schedule a pickup.