UPS in IMU collecting toys

The UPS Store in the Indiana Memorial Union is taking part in a national effort by The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. to benefit the Toys for Tots charity.\nUntil Dec. 23, the shipper will collect new and unwrapped toys in a drop box located inside the store. Customers can also purchase $1 pledge cards as a donation to Toys for Tots. \nA charitable organization run by the U.S. Marine Corps, Toys for Tots provides gifts for children up to the age of 15 during October, November and December. The charity donates toys during the holiday months to spread a "message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders," according to the charity's Web site.\nSince 1991, the charity has collected and delivered 64.5 million toys valued at about $344 million, according to its Web site. Last year, it collected 18 million toys that went to more than 7 million children in the United States and Puerto Rico.\n"It is rewarding to know our efforts will bring a smile to a local child's face through the gift of a new toy," Meeyoung Lee, owner of the UPS Store in the Union, said in an e-mail interview. "With many of our Marines deployed overseas, we felt it was more important than ever to support this 59-year holiday tradition."\nThe toys and money collected will benefit local children who otherwise would not be receiving any presents this Christmas. \n"It's nice to know we're helping a local kid get a present who normally wouldn't get one," said Amy Grourke, an employee at the store.\nToys for Tots prefers toys that can stand alone as gifts and that cost about $12 to $15, according to a press release. Toys for Tots usually runs short of toys for children ages eight to fifteen.\nDonations will be accepted through Dec. 23. Anyone unable to make it to the store can visit Toys for Tots' Web site, www.toysfortots.org, to find other drop-off locations.