Annual 'Christmas Toy Box' shopping day set for Sunday

Seven-year-old Jayda Kincade of McCook helps transport toys Sunday afternoon for the 2018 McCook area “Christmas Toy Box” shopping day scheduled Sunday, Dec, 9, at 1 p.m., at McCook’s Memorial Auditorium. Jayda is the daughter of Dan Kincade, who also helped Sunday afternoon, and the granddaughter of Kathy Kincade, another Toy Box volunteer, making Jayda the third generation of the Kincade family to volunteer their time for the Toy Box.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Southwest Nebraska’s and Northwest Kansas’ 42nd annual “Christmas Toy Box” shopping day will be Sunday, Dec. 9, at McCook’s Memorial Auditorium, at the corner of West Fifth and C streets. The countdown to open the east doors begins at 1 p.m.

The handicap accessible entry is on the southeast corner of the building.

The Toy Box event is for anyone living in the McCook area who has a need and a desire to make a child’s Christmas brighter.

Toys can be donated this week by taking them to the big roll-up door on the north side of the auditorium between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.Toy Box elves ask that puzzles and toys with lots of individual pieces be bagged well so that pieces don’t get separated.

Monetary donations are always welcome and are used to purchase batteries, or, in the case of the Toy Box’s bike shop, repair parts for bikes and trikes.

Donations can be mailed to the McCook office of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, 108 West C, McCook, NE 69001.

Residence requirements

There are residence requirements for shoppers at the Toy Box giveaway, head elf Barb Ostrum emphasizes. “The Toy Box is supported by the generous people of our area, and it’s our responsibility to use their resources wisely in turn to help children who live within this same area,” she said.

A picture identification and proof of current address (such as a utility bill) will be required for all shoppers, who must be at least 18 years old. No unaccompanied children will be allowed.

Shoppers must be residents of these counties:

In Nebraska: Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock, Frontier, Red Willow or Furnas counties.

In Kansas: Decatur, Rawlins, Cheyenne or Norton counties.

Shoppers cannot bring their own boxes and bags, nor can they use baby strollers as shopping carts.