Toys for Tots Receives Thousands of Donations from Local Law Enforcement

For the 18th year, police officers from across the metro gathered at the Golden Valley police station to donate toys to children in need.

On Dec. 19, 45 police cars and SUVs streamed into Golden Valley, lining the streets near City Hall. But this was no emergency. With cars full of gifts, about 20 metro-area police departments gathered at the Golden Valley police station in preparation for the Golden Valley Police Department's annual Toys for Tots parade to the KARE 11 drop-off site. While officers admit that it's almost impossible to count how many toys each department donates, Golden Valley police told Patch that cops bring thousands of gifts to the KARE 11 tent each year. Right before 5 p.m., police roared down Golden Valley Road to KARE 11's station with sirens on and lights flashing. Wednesday's noisy motorcade of law enforcement backed up traffic and stopped a few …

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Toys for Tots Drop-Off Locations in Golden Valley

Are you wondering where you can drop off a toy for the Toys for Tots drive? Find a location near you.

With only about three weeks to go until Christmas, here's where you can go to drop off new, unwrapped toys and help put a smile on a child's face this holiday season. Menards KARE 11 Golden Valley Police Department Dunn Bros Coffee Wells Fargo Bank Do you know about a drop-off site that's not on this list? Let us know! List it in the comments.

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Golden Valley Police Will Launch Toys for Tots Drive

The toy drive begins Nov. 26.

For 17 years, the Golden Valley Police Department has led regional law enforcement agencies in a unique approach to the Toys for Tots donation effort. It starts with a toy collection at the GVPD. On the last collection day, police from as many as 20 departments load their cruisers with donated gifts and meet at the GVPD. Then, lights blazing and sirens blaring, they parade to the KARE 11 Toys for Tots drop-off site. In past years the effort garnered thousands of toys. If you want to help, bring new, unwrapped toys to the GVPD at 7800 Golden Valley Rd. (open 24 hours a day) between Nov. 26 and Dec. 18 (at 3 p.m.). Don’t forget gifts for older kids and teens. Information provided by the City of Golden Valley

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(Photos) A Parade of Police for 'Toys for Tots'

20 metro police departments joined Golden Valley in making the annual trek with donated toys over to KARE 11.

Just after 3:00 yesterday afternoon, police from 20 metro area departments arrived at the Golden Valley Police Department, cruisers loaded with donated gifts, in preparation for the GVPD’s annual loud and colorful Toys for Tots parade to the KARE 11 drop-off site. For 16 years, the GVPD has led regional law enforcement agencies in a unique approach to the Toys for Tots donation effort. It starts with a toy collection at the various police departments. Then on the last collection day, they all meet in Golden Valley and parade to KARE 11 with lights blazing and sirens blaring. In past years the effort garnered thousands of toys. The above content was provided by Cheryl Weiler, communications director for the city of Golden Valley.

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Lots of Cheer Despite Fewer Toys at Golden Valley Toys for Tots Distribution Site

LoveWorks Academy held its first ever Toys for Tots donation drive, but fewer toys didn't dampen the holiday spirit.

Toys for Tots officials in Minnesota say donations were down this year. Saturday, a Golden Valley performing arts school that served as a Toys for Tots distribution site felt the effects of the decrease in holiday giving. "We were expecting two toys per child but because of the shortage this year we weren't able to give that," said LoveWorks Academy Director April Harrison. "But each of our children did receive something, at least. People are still grateful and that's pretty much the bottom line. Something is better than nothing." The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (who run the Toys for Tots campaign) pin much of the blame for the decreased donations on the 17 inches of snow that fell on the Twin Cities last weekend.  "People just weren't able …

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Video: Golden Valley Police Lead Massive Procession to Toys for Tots Tent

If you were near the intersection of Highway 55 and General Mills Blvd. Friday night at 5 p.m., chances are you had to wait a few extra minutes to get where you were going.

Every December for the past 15 years, the Golden Valley Police Department has led a convoy of cop cars filled with toys to the Toys for Tots tent at KARE 11. Marines say donations were down this year, so the efforts of the local law enforcement agencies are a big help to the program that provides needy children with toys for the holidays.

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Golden Valley Patch Gives Back

Toys for Tots is one example of how Patch.com gives back to the community.

Toys for Tots hopes to collect about 350,000 toys for Minnesota children. This is the 27th year Toys for Tots has set up a collection tent in Golden Valley. 

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Video: Toys for Tots Donations off to a Slow Start

The U.S. Marines who run the program say people aren't thinking about Christmas just yet, but the agencies who distribute the toys will need them soon.

The Toys for Tots tent at KARE 11 in Golden Valley opened Dec. 3, and one week later, the U.S. Marines who run the program admit they're concerned. "We're off to a little slow start," said Sgt. Luke Schleif. Christmas may be about two weeks away, but the marines say the non-profit agencies need those toys soon in order to get them back to the children who will receive them this year. "It's always kind of a hail mary effort at the end," Schleif said. "It's pretty hectic. So if people could donate sooner rather than later, that would be great." Great for distribution sites such as LoveWorks Academy in Golden Valley.   "We have 75 families, but that's just families," said LoveWorks Academy Director April Harrison. "I can't even tell you how …

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Golden Valley Patch Week in Review

Here is a small sampling of the stories we featured from Nov. 28 - Dec. 4

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