Help Kids This Christmas At This Drive-Thru Toys for Tots Event in Austin, Minnesota

Christmas magic is all around us - lights are twinkling on Christmas trees and store windows and an epic amount of snow has fallen in Minnesota setting the perfect scene.  One thing is missing though for thousands of kids in Southeast Minnesota...toys.

Can you imagine NOT having anything to open on Christmas morning?  Sadly, this is a fact for many individuals who are struggling financially.  But thanks to a huge number of volunteers and people like you, Christmas magic is showing up on December 25th for these families thanks to Toys for Tots.

READ MORE: Listen to Christmas Music 24/7 on Southeast Minnesota's Official Christmas Station, Y-105FM

Drop Off A Toy This Saturday at the Drive-Thru Toys For Tots Event in Austin, Minnesota

A few weeks ago, I had a chance to hang out with Tim Staver, Sergeant, USMC-Reserve (Retired) who serves as the Coordinator of the Toys for Tots program in Mower and Freeborn Counties.  We were at Runnings in Austin and the night was all about filling up the bin for Toys for Tots...and people showed up!  By the time I left the store, the box was full of so many great toys for kids to enjoy this Christmas season.

That one box isn't enough though.  To help ensure that all kids experience the magic of Christmas this year, a drive-through toy drive for Toys for Tots is happening on Saturday, December 6th.  Here's what you need to know:

• WHAT: Drive-through toy drive for the Mower-Freeborn Toys for Tots
• WHEN: Saturday, December 6th, 2025
• TIME: 10:00 am until 2:00 pm
• WHERE: In the parking lot out front of the Runnings store on 18th Ave. in Austin, Minnesota.  Local First Responders, American Legion Riders, and Pulver Towing will be helping at the event - you won't be able to miss them!
• WHAT TO BRING: Come say "hi" and drop off a new, unwrapped toy.

Our annual Drive Through Toy Drop Off is set for Saturday December 6th from 10am-2pm. Come say hi and drop off a new unwrapped toy! Our local First Responders, American Legion Riders and Pulver Towing will be joining us and would love to see you all!!! - Mower-Freeborn Toys for Tots Facebook Page

How Many Children Were Supported By Toys for Tots in the Austin and Albert Lea in 2024?

Last year, thanks to the monetary and toy donations by the community, 2,717 kids were supported by the Mower-Freeborn Toys for Tots program.  That magic of Christmas was felt by those kids thanks to the amazing 3,989 toys were distributed.

Drop Off Locations for Toys For Tots in the Austin and Albert Lea Area

If you can't make it to the drive-through, stop by one of the locations below with a new, unwrapped toy.

Eagles FOE 2258
11/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
205 W Williams st., Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Cricket Wireless
11/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
1641 Blake Ave, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Walgreens
11/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
7am-10pm
703 East Main St, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Services
10/13/2025 - 12/19/2025
8-4:30pm
2210 E. Main St., Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Albert Lea American Legion Post 56
10/27/2025 - 12/23/2025
Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m-2 p.m.& 4 p.m-closing
142 N. Broadway St, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Sunrise Aviation LLC
12/19/2025 - 12/23/2025
402 Airport Rd, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

CCFBank
11/10/2025 - 12/19/2025
2630 Bridge Ave, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Ulland Brothers
11/13/2025 - 12/23/2025
2501 East Main Street, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Edward Jones
12/10/2025 - 12/23/2025
412 E William St, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Larson Manufacturing
11/24/2025 - 12/23/2025
1501 Betha Larson Ln, Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Mayo Clinic Hospice - Albert Lea
11/12/2025 - 12/08/2025
404 W. Fountain St., Albert Lea, Minnesota, 56007

Walmart
11/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
Albert lea, Albert lea, Minnesota, 56007

First Farmers & Merchants
11/24/2025 - 12/23/2025
128 N. Main St, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Mayo Clinic Hospice - Austin
11/12/2025 - 12/08/2025
1000 1st Dr NW, AUSTIN , Minnesota, 55912

Steve Justice-State Farm
11/10/2025 - 12/23/2025
9:00a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
1405 15th Ave NW, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Taco Johns
10/20/2025 - 12/23/2025
630am to 11pm
308 W Oakland Ave, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Austin Ford
10/30/2025 - 12/23/2025
2701 W Oakland Ave, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Qdoba Mexican Eats
11/01/2025 - 12/20/2025
1101 18th Ave. NW.Suite 220 , Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Walmart
11/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Walgreens
10/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
7am-10pm
1420 W Oakland Ave, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Asa Auto Plaza of Austin
11/26/2025 - 12/23/2025
8:30-5:30
703 17th Avenue NW, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

VFW POST 1216
11/01/2025 - 12/21/2025
300 4th Ave NE, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Cedars of Austin
11/03/2025 - 12/23/2025
700 1st Dr NW, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

ARBY'S
11/01/2025 - 11/23/2025
1305 18TH AVE NW, AUSTIN, Minnesota, 55912

Runnings
11/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Cricket wireless
11/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
1905 8th st Nw, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Culvers Austin
11/01/2025 - 12/22/2025
10am-10pm
1800 8th ST NW, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

American Legion Post 91
11/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
1pm-close
809 12th st Sw, Austin, Minnesota, 55912

Geneva Bar and Grill
11/05/2025 - 12/21/2025
101 W main St., Geneva, Minnesota, 56007

AMERICAN LEGION POST 264
11/20/2025 - 11/22/2025
331 W MAIN ST, GLENVILLE, Minnesota, 55912

First National Bank
11/01/2025 - 12/23/2025
9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. M-F
109 West Main, LeRoy, Minnesota, 55951

Cheers
11/01/2025 - 12/21/2025
Waltham , Waltham, Minnesota, 55982

READ MORE: Find Toys For Tots Drop Off Locations in Rochester, Minnesota Here

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