Portage County Toys for Tots 2023 begins Nov. 10
By Patrick Lynn
The Rotary Club of Greater Portage County is collecting new, unused toys for its annual Toys for Tots campaign through Dec. 5.
Part of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program now in its 76th year, the local effort gathers thousands of new unwrapped toys for children and families in Portage County.
High-demand toys like LEGOs, Pokemon, and Barbie brands; toy trucks, cars, tractors, and dolls are especially being sought, along with teen-appropriate gifts like young adult books, and sports brand merchandise like hats, bags, and tumblers, alongside arts, crafts, and STEM projects for ages 10 and above.
Sarah Scripps, volunteer coordinator for Toys for Tots, said over 25 businesses and organizations across the county are hosting collection boxes.
A related event, Truckers for Tots, sponsored by Mid State Trucking, is being held at 5 p.m. on Dec. 4 at Fleet Farm, 5590 Hwy. 10 East. Last year’s event collected over $10,000 in toys for the drive.
Volunteers from the Rotary will collect the boxes on Dec. 5 and work with Operation Bootstrap to coordinate the distribution of toys.
Scripps said in 2022, Operation Bootstrap delivered over 4,000 toys and books to 1,200 children in Portage County.
Toys for Tots in Portage County is sponsored in part by Furniture & Appliance Mart, Mid State Trucking, Precision Glass and Door, and Chet’s Heating and Plumbing.
The following locations are sponsoring public collection boxes in 2023:
- Adventure 212, 3217 John Joanis Dr., Stevens Point
- Buffalo Wild Wings, 5370 Hwy. 10 East, Stevens Point
- Copy Center, 101 Division St. #3, Stevens Point
- Furniture & ApplianceMart, 1015 Commons Cir., Plover
- Gepetto’s Workshop, 1121 Main St, Stevens Point
- Holiday Inn – Amber Grill, 1001 Amber Ave., Stevens Point
- Len Dudas Motors, 3305 Main St., Stevens Point
- Mark Toyota of Plover, 1765 Park Ave., Plover
- Menards, 1901 Plover Rd., Plover
- O’so Brewing Company, 800 Plover Rd., Plover
- Old National Bank, 640 Division St., Stevens Point
- Pineries Bank, 3601 Main St., Stevens Point
- Precision Audio & Video Experts, 87 Sunset Blvd., Stevens Point
- Precision Glass, 3101 Post Rd., Stevens Point
- Simplicity Credit Union, 3101 Hoover Rd., Stevens Point
- Stevens Point Auto Center, 3733 Stanley St., Stevens Point
- Valley Community Credit Union, 2940 Church St., Stevens Point
- Walgreen, 10 Park Ridge Dr., Park Ridge
- Walgreens, 3301 Church St., Stevens Point
- Wander Inn Family Restaurant, 3703 State Hwy. 161,
Amherst Junction
