A record number of toys were donated on Friday and Saturday during the annual Christmas toy drop on DeLane Drive.
This is the 24th year for the toy drop, for which about 25 families in the neighborhood decorate their homes and invite Santa for a visit during the event.
“It’s grown exponentially since it was first organized,” said Gary Allemang, who has been involved in the toy drop for a number of years. “The whole neighborhood lights up and participates.”
This year saw the largest donation of gifts yet, according to Allemang.
“We had over 40 large trash bags full of brand-new toys and a couple of bags full of used ones,” Allemang said. “That’s almost double what we had last year, and that was a large one.”
The toys will be going to the Salvation Army and to SOS.
There were other, more substantial donations to go along with the toys. One man donates a couple of bicycles every year, and this year was no exception.
“I think he was a recipient of some gifts way back when he was a youngster and he just seems to keep giving back every year,” Allemang said.
Another bicycle was donated by a girl who was celebrating her birthday.
Dieker Dairy showed up to the toy drop with an SUV filled with toys, and one man, who chose to remain anonymous, donated $500.