Origin

The Toy Drive began as a Teddy Bear Drive during a Holiday Reception in December of 1998 in appreciation for local law enforcement personnel that assisted in the search and rescue of an RCTC employee's son during a horse back riding accident.

Understanding that children find themselves in tramatic situations everyday, the UCR employees continued to conduct a "Teddy Bear Drive" annually from 1998 through 2010 during the holiday season. The stuffed animals were donated to the Olmsted County Sheriff's Department, and shared with other local agencies who come upon children in need of a "friend."

Beginning in 2010, the Teddy Bear Drive converted to a Toy Drive, and today the toys are given to a local non-profit organization who's sole mission is to help families in need during the Holidays.

Annual Toy Drive

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1999 . ................... . 2002

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2006 ..............................2011

Donations to-date

1998 - 57 teddy bears
1999 - 88 teddy bears
2000 - 98 teddy bears
2001 - 70 teddy bars
2002 - 132 teddy bears
2003 - 125 teddy bears
2004 - 106 teddy bears
2005 - 118 teddy bears
2006 - 107 teddy bears
2007 - 109 teddy bears
2008 - 79 teddy bears
2009 - 88 teddy bears
2010 - 44 toys
2011 - 75 toys

Total to-date: 1,296 Toys

Thank you, everyone, for donating to the drive!