Laura Day's Sports and Fitness Consulting and Taekwondo America are collecting unwrapped toys and taking monetary donations to give to four area facilities. I don't know how big this will be, but I know we'll do this again. Both businesses operate out of the same building on 131st Street near Indiana 37, so it's a good collection spot for the gifts. Barry Herbert, Jason Byrd and Jason Kesler are instructors at Taekwondo America and are into the toy drive full-swing. The instructors say the response has been great from their clients and the community.
Day adds that it's important for their students to understand that others have less than they do.
A wish list for each organization guides people who want to donate. Gifts for the agencies in Arcadia and Cicero are mainly developmental toys. Five families have been selected through B.A.B.E.S and Beyond to receive gifts. The Christian Youth Home needs toys, games and other items that would be appropriate for teenage boys and girls. The toy drive ends with a visit from Santa to the Taekwondo center on Dec. 16.