Counting down to the Toy Box

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette

Courtney Williams, a para-professional at McCook, Nebraska, Public Schools rearranges ride-on toys as she and other Santa's "elves" prepare for the community's 31st annual "Christmas Toy Box" give-away Sunday, at 1 p.m., in the McCook City Auditorium at West Fifth and C streets. Toy Box coordinator Barb Ostrum said Santa's list of needed items includes gifts for boys 10 through 16. "And 'Pillow Pets' make wonderful gifts that we can combine with books," she said. "We've received many great books and puzzles, but we don't need the R-rated movies." She asks that anyone donating toys with batteries to please remove the batteries before placing them in the collection receptacles. "Especially if toys are dropped off after 5:30 p.m., when we make our rounds to pick them up," Ostrum said, fearing the cold will cause batteries to burst and ruin toys. Drop-off points are: outside at Alco, McCook Christian Church, Wal-Mart and Dollar General; and inside at McCook National Bank, AmPride/Baskin Robbins, First Central Bank and Eakes Office Plus. Toys, and especially bikes, trikes, scooters or wagons, can be delivered to the Toy Box workshop at 113 East C.