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Lucas County Children Services Kicks Off 2018 Holiday Gift
Drive Annual Campaign “Gives the Best Gift Ever” to 2,500
Lucas County Children
The holiday season is
almost upon us, and Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) is
once again asking area residents to “Give the Best Gift
Ever” this holiday season!
The agency is kicking off
its annual Holiday Gift Drive, which is co-sponsored by the
Friends of Lucas County Children Services (FLCCS) and
several community partners. The community-based campaign is
expected to provide gifts to as many as 2,500 children who
are victims of abuse and neglect. Gift collection begins
November 16, and runs through December 14, 2018.
The drive provides gifts
for children living in foster care, with relatives or with
their families under LCCS supervision. “This has been a
difficult year for the children of Lucas County. Our data
tells us that abuse and neglect continue to rise, in no
small part to the incidence of substance abuse in our
community. Giving these children a reason to smile at the
holiday season is really important. Lucas County residents
have been very generous in the past, and we hope they will
continue that tradition of giving,” says Robin Reese, LCCS
executive director.
The gift drive provides
toys for children from birth to age 18. While we are seeking
gifts for all age groups, the agency is in particular need
of gifts for children of all ethnic groups who are newborn
to three years old, and gift cards for teenagers.
Several generous community
partners are again stepping up to support the gift drive.
Key sponsors include PNC Bank; Bennett Management Corp., a
franchisee of BURGER KING Corporation®, and La-Z-Boy; other
partners include Allshred Services; Barnes & Noble Toledo;
Brondes Ford; The Countertop Shop; DANA Corporation;
Franklin Park Mall; Levis Commons; Teamsters Local 20;
Toledo Auto Care; radio station WRVF 101.5 The River; WTOL;
and Woodcraft. Local residents are encouraged to drop a new,
unwrapped toy in the collection boxes located around the
community:
• Allshred Services, 3940
Technology Drive in Maumee. • Brondes Ford, 1511 Reynolds
Rd., Maumee and 5545 Secor Rd., Toledo. • All Toledo-area
BURGER KING® restaurants in Holland, Maumee, Northwood,
Oregon, Toledo, and Lambertville, Mich. • The Countertop
Shop, 9300 Airport Hwy. • Franklin Park Mall, 5001 Monroe
Street, Toledo (pick an ornament from the wish trees) *
La-Z-Boy Furniture stores, 5804 Airport Hwy. and 5173 Monroe
St. in Toledo; and 3316 Navarre Ave. in Oregon. • Toledo
Auto Care, 4544 Monroe St. and 5329 Heatherdowns, Toledo. •
The Town Center at Levis Commons, 3201 Levis Commons Blvd.,
Perrysburg. • Woodcraft, 5311 Airport Highway, Toledo. •
WTOL studios, 730 N. Summit St., Toledo.
Additionally, the Barnes
& Noble Booksellers at 4940 Monroe Street in Toledo has
designated the LCCS Holiday Gift Drive as the recipient of
its 2018 holiday book donation campaign, which encourages
customers to purchase books to be donated to the gift
drive.
Several special events are
being scheduled to encourage Toledo-area residents to
support the gift drive: Hensville Tree Lighting Visitors to
the downtown Hensville tree lighting on Monroe Street on
Saturday, November 17, are encouraged to donate a new,
unwrapped toy at one of the donation stations in the
Hensville/St. Clair St. corridor.
Levis Commons Tree
Lighting Levis Commons in Perrysburg begins its holiday
season with a tree lighting on November 17 at 6 p.m.
Visitors will be encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped toy
at the LCCS tent and grab a bag of popcorn to munch on.
Lights Before Christmas, Toledo Zoo The Toledo Zoo kicks off
its annual “Lights Before Christmas” on November 23,
including the ribbon cutting for the renovated tunnel under
the Anthony Wayne Trail. LCCS staff will be on hand at both
zoo entrances from 4 to 7 p.m. to collect donations of new,
unwrapped toys for children served by LCCS.
Downtown Toy Drop
Scheduled On Thursday, December 6, WTOL will host its second
annual “Downtown Toy Drop” in its parking lot at 730 North
Summit St. from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. WSPD will also broadcast
live throughout the day. Everyone is encouraged to drive
through and donate a new, unwrapped toy to the LCCS drive.
“Shred for a Toy” Day
Scheduled On Saturday, December 8, 101.5 The River morning
show host Rick Woodell will continue the tradition of
broadcasting live from the BURGER KING® at 4870 Monroe
Street (across from Franklin Park Mall) from 1 to 3 p.m.
Allshred Services will be on hand to provide free shredding
for up to five bags or boxes of paper documents when you
donate a new, unwrapped toy. The public is encouraged to
stop by and support the gift drive during that time.
The mission of Lucas
County Children Services is to lead the community in the
protection of children at risk of abuse and neglect. This is
accomplished by working with families, service providers and
community members to assess risk and coordinate
community-based services resulting in safe, stable and
permanent families for children.
Friends of Lucas County
Children Services Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) is
the government agency that investigates allegations of child
abuse and neglect and provides protective services when
necessary. Friends of Lucas County Children Services is a
501(c) (3), private non-profit organization that supports
LCCS through various charities
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