More than 250 children received gifts at the annual Park Forest Toy Drive, which took place on December 6 at Village Hall. The event, organized by the Village of Park Forest and supported by over a dozen sponsors and community partners, distributed more than 2,000 toys to local families.
Organizers reported that the Village purchased about 1,000 toys for the drive, while another 1,000 were donated by sponsoring organizations and residents. Each child was given at least four gifts, including items such as dolls, board games, action figures, craft kits, and sports equipment.
Community Relations Manager Evelyn Randle highlighted the collaborative effort behind the event. “This event is spearheaded by the Commission on Human Relations, Community Relations Manager, and the Youth Commission contributed monetarily, along with a hand in wrapping,” Randle said. “Yes, we wrapped all 2000 gifts with a boatload of Santa Helpers. This event allows the commission to highlight local volunteers with big hearts and helping hands.”
Randle emphasized the importance of supporting families during challenging times. “We know the holidays can be a tough time for many families, and ensuring every child walks away with toys they’re excited about is incredibly important to us.”
She also noted that many families arrived early for the event and expressed their appreciation for the assistance provided this year. “You could see the excitement on the kids’ faces the moment they walked through the doors,” Randle said. “But what really touched us were the parents who told us how much this helped them give their children a joyful Christmas. We’re truly grateful to everyone who made that possible.”
Sponsors included local businesses, civic groups, commissions, and regional partners whose contributions filled Village Hall with toys.
Randle pointed out that community partnerships played a key role in making this year’s toy drive successful. “This is what Park Forest is all about — neighbors, businesses, and organizations coming together to support our families,” she said. “We couldn’t do this without our sponsors, and we’re thankful for every single one of them.”
Planning has already begun for next year’s toy drive as organizers hope to reach even more children in 2026.
