Saint Mary’s University to Collect Donations for Toys for Tots

Toy donations welcome at Minneapolis, Apple Valley,
Minnetonka, Oakdale, and Rochester locations

MINNEAPOLIS – Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus and Apple Valley, Minnetonka, and Oakdale centers will be drop-off sites for the Toys for Tots program this holiday season.

Headed by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for 64 years, Toys for Tots has provided more than 435 million toys to more than 202 million underprivileged children. In 2010 alone, the Marines distributed more than 16 million toys to 7.2 million children in more than 700 communities nationwide.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted between November 28 and December 18. Donations should be placed in the designated boxes inside the entrances to any of the following locations:
• Twin Cities campus (2500 Park Avenue, Minneapolis)
• Apple Valley Center (14200 Cedar Avenue)
• Minnetonka Center (12450 Wayzata Boulevard)
• Oakdale Center (7200 Hudson Boulevard N., Suite 200)
• Rochester Center (1926 Collegeview Drive SE)

Saint Mary’s is placing a particular focus on the age categories that in years past have received the fewest toys: ages 0 to 2 and 15 to 17. The university is also encouraging donors to contribute toys that spur creativity and thought, including:
• Ages 0-2: Blocks, rhythm instruments, wooden puzzles, picture books, push-pull toys, nesting toys
• Ages 15-17: Legos, complex models, hobby kits (such as jewelry-making), board games, small electronic games, puzzles, magnetic poetry, journals

“By encouraging toy donations that support youth educational development, Saint Mary’s partnership with Toys for Tots has played a key role in helping build strong communities for the future. We are thrilled to continue supporting this initiative,” said Don St. Dennis, associate vice president for university relations for the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs.

For more information about Saint Mary’s participation in Toys for Tots, contact Julia Jenson at 612-728-5119 or follow Saint Mary’s on Twitter at @SMUGradPrograms.