The Kalona Rotary is hosting a toy drive from now until Dec. 13, with drop off boxes located at several businesses throughout town. The toys will be given to families in the community to help their kids have a wonderful Christmas.

Last year the Rotarians amassed over 150 toys and the group is hoping to break that record this year.

“One of the Rotary’s mottos is ‘Service above self,’” said Katie Miller, chair of the Rotary toy drive. “We take that very seriously and we try to do service projects throughout the year. But we’ve been doing the toy drive for a long time, and it is one of our most successful projects.”

New toys can be dropped off in donation boxes located at CBI Bank, Hills Bank, KCTC, JW’s Foods, the YMCA and the Chamber of Commerce until Dec. 13.

“One thing new we tried last year, that we’re doing again this year, is an Amazon wishlist, where people can buy toys off Amazon and send them to City Hall,” Miller said. “We’re very thankful to Ryan Schlabaugh and the city for allowing us to use City Hall as a gathering place for the toys.”

The Amazon wishlist is available at amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2M0xJUQ75MYZ8.

Monetary donations can also be sent to the Rotary’s PO Box.

The Rotary plans to wrap all the donated toys at City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 14, then the toys will be distributed to families by Dec. 17.

The Rotary wishes to thank all the locations housing a donation box, the City of Kalona for accepting Amazon orders, organizing gifts and housing the toy wrapping event, the Mid-Prairie faculty for helping to organize donation recipients, wrapping and distributing gifts, and all members of the community who donate toys during this year’s drive.