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Attendees line up for free hot food at the
Westside Community Center's Fall Festival Oct. 27.
Westside Community Center taking applications for Christmas Unlimited toy drive
During the Westside Community Center's Fall
Festival Oct. 27, face-painting volunteers included Annika Wilson (foreground,
dressed as the Cowardly Lion) and Blayke Lane (who said she was dressed as an
"imagined character").
Westside Pioneer photo
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The Westside Community Center is accepting applications for parents who'd like to be given toys that they can in turn give to their children through the annual Christmas Unlimited Holiday Toy Distribution.
The Community Center's office is at 1628 W. Bijou St
A nonprofit nearly a century old, Christmas Unlimited will accept application forms (two pages in length) through Dec. 14. Toys will be distributed Dec. 3 to 24.
No eligibility information is required. “The act of submitting the application guarantees the family is eligible for assistance,” the Christmas Unlimited website states.
Typical toys include board games, sporting goods, building sets, play kitchen items, dolls and action figures, personal care items (for older children), electronic items, bicycles, scooters, wagons, toddler ride-on toys, arts and crafts and science/collection kits.
People wanting to support the toy program are mainly asked to send financial donations, as these “allow Christmas Unlimited the greatest flexibility,” the website explains. “Christmas Unlimited seeks out toys being sold at a significant discount, which enables us to turn your donation into toys worth many times the value given.”
However, toys themselves are also accepted, including used donations, as long as they are “gently used toys in good condition,” the website continues.
The Community Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except days when School District 11 is closed for snow. For more information, call 385-7920 x100.
For parents thinking about seeking help from Christmas Unlimited, “the entire process is effective, friendly, and fun; all to help the parent feel good about themselves,” the website asserts. “This method of distribution promotes family unity and parental self-worth - having an impact far beyond that of making a child happy on Christmas Day.”
For more information, call 597-1821 or go to christmasunlimited.org.
Westside Pioneer article
(Community:
Westside Community Center)
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