To help local families have happier holidays, the library is asking for public donations to two community drives.
Toys for Tots collection boxes are now set up at the Belt Branch and the Savannah Branch until Nov. 30.
Donations must be new, unwrapped toys and in the $5 to $15 range. More expensive gifts, such as video games, are discouraged so more people can afford to donate and more toys are available to give children, according to Don Crigger, the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots coordinator for Andrew and Buchanan counties.
The toys that are donated in the two counties will be passed on to charitable organizations that distribute Christmas presents in those counties.
In November, the library is seeking donations to provide families with baby supplies, hygiene items and cleaning supplies. The items collected between Nov. 1-30 will be given to the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division Northwest Region Prevention Team to provide to families in need.
Items sought for babies include diapers and pull-ups, wipes, baby bottles, pacifiers, sippy cups, shampoo, lotion, thermometers, diaper rash cream and clothing including toddler sizes.
Home and hygiene items needed are laundry detergent, home cleaning products, trash bags, cleaning rags, hand and dish soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner and body wash.
All items donated will go directly to support children and families working with the Children’s Division.
