Little Elm Journal > News
Gift of Giving: Secret Santa of Little Elm toy drive begins Saturday
By Andrew Snyder, asnyder@starlocalnews.com
Secret Santa of Little Elm will be working to stuff the stocking of the area's underprivileged children again this year, and residents willing to lend a hand can to bring an unwrapped toy to the organization's Toys for Tots drive Saturday.
The drive will take place from 9 a.m, to 12 p.m. in front of Town Hall, which is located at 100 West Eldorado Parkway. Another drive with the same hours will be held Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Kroger Marketplace located at FM 423 and FM 720.
Secret Santa will be collecting unwrapped gifts for children up to 12 years old. The organization, which has been collecting donated toys for more than a decade, already has the names of 300 children they will be providing gifts to this year and they are still collecting more. The annual drive usually collects enough toys to provide more than one to each child. The gifts are categorized by price point to ensure each child gets an equal amount, whether that's one substantial present or several less expensive ones.
“We make the best use of any gift they bring,” said Sandy DeVault, one of the event's organizers. “We're grateful for whatever they donate.”
In addition to the drives, drop boxes will be located around Little Elm at businesses and government buildings where toys can be donated during normal operating hours. Drop boxes will be located at Kroger, Town Hall and Dollar General, among other locations.
All donated toys will go to area children, DeVault said.
Secret Santa's application process took place during October and the first week of November. After collecting applications, the organization placed the names of applicants into the Salvation Army's database to ensure they are not requesting aid from multiple organizations.
Secret Santa will distribute the toys Dec. 19. Those receiving gifts will receive a letter in the mail beforehand with an assigned number they must take to the distribution center to match up with their toys. All gifts will remain unwrapped so that parents can package and attribute them, usually to Santa, as they please.
The drop boxes will remain in place past the distribution date and until Christmas. Any presents donated during that time will be used in next year's drive. For further information on the toy drive, contact DeVault at 214-975-0471 or email sdevault@littleelm.org.
The drive will take place from 9 a.m, to 12 p.m. in front of Town Hall, which is located at 100 West Eldorado Parkway. Another drive with the same hours will be held Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Kroger Marketplace located at FM 423 and FM 720.
Secret Santa will be collecting unwrapped gifts for children up to 12 years old. The organization, which has been collecting donated toys for more than a decade, already has the names of 300 children they will be providing gifts to this year and they are still collecting more. The annual drive usually collects enough toys to provide more than one to each child. The gifts are categorized by price point to ensure each child gets an equal amount, whether that's one substantial present or several less expensive ones.
“We make the best use of any gift they bring,” said Sandy DeVault, one of the event's organizers. “We're grateful for whatever they donate.”
In addition to the drives, drop boxes will be located around Little Elm at businesses and government buildings where toys can be donated during normal operating hours. Drop boxes will be located at Kroger, Town Hall and Dollar General, among other locations.
All donated toys will go to area children, DeVault said.
Secret Santa's application process took place during October and the first week of November. After collecting applications, the organization placed the names of applicants into the Salvation Army's database to ensure they are not requesting aid from multiple organizations.
Secret Santa will distribute the toys Dec. 19. Those receiving gifts will receive a letter in the mail beforehand with an assigned number they must take to the distribution center to match up with their toys. All gifts will remain unwrapped so that parents can package and attribute them, usually to Santa, as they please.
The drop boxes will remain in place past the distribution date and until Christmas. Any presents donated during that time will be used in next year's drive. For further information on the toy drive, contact DeVault at 214-975-0471 or email sdevault@littleelm.org.
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