A Toys for Tots collection will be held on and off campus, Dec. 2-12, to benefit Yolo County children; and UC Davis Children’s Hospital has launched its annual toy drive using a new, virtual format.

Mail Services has partnered with the Marine Corps Reserve on its annual Toys for Tots drive, asking for new and unwrapped gifts for children up to age 16. You can drop your donations in any of the blue bins around campus, or use campus mail — simply leave your donations with your unit’s outgoing mail.

On-campus barrels

• Aggie Surplus, 650 La Rue Road
• Cashier’s Office, 1200 Dutton Hall
• Facilities Management, Crocker Lane
• Finance, Operations and Administration, 376 Mrak Hall
• Human Resources Administration Building, Orchard Road
• Police and Fire Department Building, 625 Kleiber Hall Drive
• Repro Graphics, 176 Hoagland Hall
• Safety Services, 276 Hoagland Hall

Off-campus barrels

• Administrative IT, 1441 Research Park Drive
• Continuing and Professional Education, 1333 Research Park Drive
• Distribution Services, 615 Hopkins Road
• HR Talent/Rewards and Academic Unit Shared Services Center, 260 Cousteau Place, Suite 100
• IET, 260 Cousteau Place, Suite 110
• IET, 225 Hopkins Road
• Mouse Biology Program, 2795 Second St.
• Office of Research, 1850 Research Park Drive 
• Shared Services Organization and Supply Chain Management, 260 Cousteau Place, Suite 150

Virtual toy drive

In previous years, the children’s hospital organized a drive-up donation point. This year is easy, too: You can donate online, from the comfort of your home.

Under the new format, hospital staff have assembled sample wish lists (items that would do well as gifts for the youngest patients, and other items that patients have asked for), and are asking for funds to make those purchases. The site presents suggested donation amounts and notes what each amount could buy — $15, for example, could cover the cost of five infant rattles, six boxes of crayons, six jigsaw puzzles, 12 decks of playing cards, 15 toy cars or 15 cans of modeling compound.

Funds will be used to purchase toys, games, crafts, electronics and more so every child spending the holiday season in the hospital will receive a gift, a spokeswoman for the hospital said. Remaining funds will be used to purchase gifts for hospitalized children throughout the year. The gifts might help kids mark the end of treatment or the completion of tests and other procedures, and stock the hospital’s play spaces with toys, games and other activities year-round.

“It is our hope that the community will consider joining us again this year in our efforts to improve the hospital experience for children during the holiday season,” said Diana Sundberg, manager of the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department. “We are hopeful that this new online format will help us make the holidays brighter for our patients and families.” 

Stuff a Unitrans Bus

This week we are stuffing turkeys, next week Unitrans and the Davis Food Co-op are asking us to help stuff a vintage London double-decker bus with food to be donated to the ASUCD Pantry.

Unitrans and the co-op are hosting Stuff the Bus from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the co-op, 620 G St. Children and adults alike are welcome to enjoy the view from the top deck of the bus as they drop off their donations.

Donors will also be invited to spin a prize wheel for gifts from Unitrans and the co-op. Plus, 10-ride Unitrans passes will given to the first 50 donors.

The Pantry is a student-led organization that provides nonperishable, high-protein food for UC Davis students struggling to pay for meals. Needed foods include canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned meat, low-sugar cereal, peanut butter, whole grain pasta, rice, canned or dry beans, 100 percent fruit juice and shelf-stable milk.

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