Carle/Salvation Army Annual Toy Drive begins November 17

November 14, 2008

The holiday season will be brighter this year for east central Illinois families in need, thanks to the Carle/Salvation Army Toy Drive, a community service project of Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Clinic Association, and WDWS/WHMS. This year's Toy Drive begins Monday, November 17, and concludes on Friday December 12, following an all-day, drive-thru/drop-off collection on Wednesday, December 10. The Carle organizations have sponsored the annual Toy Drive for 24 years.

This year's goal is to collect 5,000 toys and gifts, surpassing last year's collection of nearly 4,400 toys, according to Gretchen Robbins, director of Public Relations, Carle Foundation Hospital. Last year, the Salvation Army distributed holiday packages filled with more than 16,000 toys to over 650 families. These toys came from the Toy Drive and other donations made to the Salvation Army throughout the year.

The theme of this year's drive is Making Ordinary Miracles Happen. "We hope the public will consider the huge impact that even a modest donation from them could have on a child who might otherwise go without. We believe everyone has the ability to make an ordinary miracle happen in the lives of these families," Ms. Robbins said.
This year the drive has expanded to encompass a wider range of age-groups-gifts for teens are now encouraged.  The public is asked to drop off new, unwrapped toys for children up to 17 years of age at several locations throughout Champaign County. These locations include:

  • Carle South Clinic - 3rd Floor, Optical Dept. 602 W. University, Urbana
  • Carle Clinic - Champaign on Curtis, 1701 W Curtis Rd.
  • Carle Clinic - Urbana on Windsor, 1818 E. Windsor Rd.
  • Health Alliance - 301 S. Vine Street, Urbana
  • Carle Clinic - Mahomet, 1001 Heather Dr.
  • Carle Clinic - Rantoul, 1540 E. Grove
  • WDWS/WHMS - 2301 S. Neil Street, Champaign

Donors can also bring gifts to Carle's All-Day Drive-Thru Toy Collection ("Stuff The Bus!") on Wednesday, December 10, at WDWS/WHMS Radio, 2301 S. Neil (corner of Neil and Windsor).  Stop by between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m to drop off a toy in order to help us stuff a Carle shuttle bus with gifts. If you are unable to bring a toy, cash donations will be accepted at this one-day event.

"We are grateful as ever for the support of WDWS/WHMS and Mike Haile, also known as Mike in the Morning," Ms. Robbins said. "The Toy Drive has shown impressive growth in recent years, allowing us to bring joy to more and more families, and this is in no small part due to Mike's continued participation and unwavering support."

For more information, listen to Mike in the Morning on WHMS Lite Rock 97.5 or call The Carle Foundation Public Relations Department at (217) 383-3016.