Villa Park and Oakbrook Terrace residents can drop off new toys through December at local fire stations for Toy Express Children's Charity.
The DuPage County nonprofit, founded in 1990, is an all-volunteer organization that collects and distributes toys to families on public assistance in the western suburbs, according to the Toy Express website. A feature profile in Elmhurst Magazine reported that treasurer Chris Bokhart estimates the charity serves 1,900 to 2,000 children annually.
Families are invited by appointment to a temporary storefront to pick out their own children's gifts, Bokhart told Elmhurst Magazine. The charity aims to provide each child with a small, medium and large gift, plus a stuffed animal and a book.
Where to drop off toys
In Villa Park, collection boxes are at City Hall, 20 S. Ardmore, and Fire Station #3, 1440 S. Ardmore. In Oakbrook Terrace, the drop box is at Fire Station #1, 17W400 Butterfield Road. Nearby in Lombard, York Center Fire Department's Station #1 at 1517 S. Meyers Road also collects.
Babydolls and trucks are the greatest need, Bokhart told Elmhurst Magazine. Legos, STEAM kits and art supplies are also popular. The average age of children served is 5 to 9.
Fire truck parade
The first week of December, several participating fire departments load collected toys onto their engines with Santa in the front bucket. They parade the toys to that year's storefront location, and kids can come out for photos with Santa.
President Kelli Rynne, daughter of co-founder Patricia Rynne, leads the organization. Additional drop-off locations are listed at ToyExpress.org.
