Saint Mary’s University Collects 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 Rochester centers will be drop-off sites for the Toys for Tots program this December.

Headed by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for 63 years, Toys for Tots has provided more than 419 million toys to more than 195 million underprivileged children. In 2009 alone, the Marines distributed gifts to 7.4 million children in nearly 700 communities nationwide, including 350,000 gifts to children in the local community.

Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be accepted between December 1 and 22. Please place your donations in the designated boxes inside the entrances to the following Saint Mary’s buildings during listed hours:

• Twin Cities Campus (2500 Park Avenue, Minneapolis)

o Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Apple Valley Center (14200 Cedar Avenue)

o Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

o Fridays from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

o Donations will be accepted until December 17

• Minnetonka Center (12450 Wayzata Boulevard)

o Monday through Thursday from 12-9 p.m. (December 1-17)

o Monday through Wednesday from 12-5 p.m. (December 20-22)

• Oakdale Center (7200 Hudson Boulevard N, Suite 200)

o Wednesdays, December 1, 8, and 15 from 3-9 p.m.

o Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m.

o Tuesday, December 14 from 2-8 p.m.

o Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Rochester Center (1926 Collegeview Drive SE)

o Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

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

“Saint Mary’s strives to build strong communities through education, and we are excited to expand this mission by collecting donations of educational toys for the Toys for the Tots program,” said Don St. Dennis, executive director of external affairs 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.