Giving Tuesday may have passed, but it’s never too late to donate a Christmas gift for a child in Collin County.

For the past 15 years, there has been an annual Toy Run, a motorcycle ride where bikers collect toys to donate to Collin County Toys for Tots. This year’s event takes place Dec. 4 and begins at Freedom Power Sports in McKinney.

Each rider must make a $25 donation to Toys for Tots, while each passenger requires a $5 donation. Riders are also encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to donate to the program.

Santa, a well-known motorcycle enthusiast himself, will be joining the ride to help collect toys and spread some holiday cheer.

The ride will go from McKinney to Farmersville, make a quick stop in Farmersville to collect toys and conclude at VFW Post 2150 in McKinney where all the collected toys will be donated.

Additionally, Toys for Tots is collecting in Farmersville again this year. Collection sites include: CBTx Bank, Independent Bank, Red Door Antiques, The Hay Loft, Tracy’s Custom Home Designs and the Farmersville Chamber of Commerce.

In Princeton, there will be a Toys for Tots collection box inside the Lois Nelson Public Library.

Toys will be collected until Dec.4, when the city will donate them to the Marines at the city’s Christmas tree lighting.For the past few weeks, there have been Toys for Tots collections sites, located in most city buildings, and there will be collection boxes at the Princeton tree lighting and Christmas parade.

Last year, the program collected 42,957 toys and supported 21,479 children across Collin County. Maria LeGall, Collin County’s Toys for Tots coordinator, expects the need to grow this year due to the ongoing pandemic.

She said that organizing this year’s program has been more difficult.

“Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, businesses have been either closed or remote, so distributing boxes has been more of a challenge than previous years,” LeGall said. “However, we have tried to alleviate this by creating Amazon wishlists, separated by age group, that ship toys directly to the warehouse.”

LeGall said that the Amazon wish lists can be accessed through collinco-tx.toysfortots.org/. 

Toys for Tots accepts new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. Also accepted are electronics, blankets, backpacks and accessories for older children.

“Families are in need more than ever due to the ongoing pandemic,” LeGall said. “This is why we are calling on our wonderful community to bring blessings to the less fortunate children of Collin County.”