Westfarms Mall To Host Major Toy Drive Saturday

WEST HARTFORD/FARMINGTON, CT — One of the area's biggest shopping malls on Saturday is having a big celebration to culminate the U.S. Marine Corps 'Toys for Tots' campaign.

The massive toy drive will take place at the Westfarms Mall in West Hartford/Farmington, with the drive being hosted by the Toys for Tots Foundation, Westfarms, and Hartford Healthcare.

It will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

"With the organization’s collection deadline of Dec, 14, this marks a final drop-off location for the non-profit to meet its goal of gathering 80,000 new, unwrapped toys needed to make dreams come true for underserved children in Hartford, Tolland, and Litchfield counties," wrote Westfarms in an announcement of Saturday's event.

The collection celebration will feature Santa Claus himself, who will arrive by fire truck to help the Marines kick off the collection.

Outside of the mall, the Marines will have a moving truck that will be filled with toys donated by the community.

Helping out are some new friends from above, namely Hartford Healthcare's Lifestar helicopter team.

Weather and time permitting, the helicopter is expected to make a surprise landing in the adjacent Westfarms parking lot and help boost the collection goal with additional toys.

The Toys for Tots collection is part of Westfarms Community First Campaign designed to give back to the community for its ongoing support of the mall.

The shopping center is also contributing $2,000 worth of toys toward the goal.

Santa is expected to arrive by fire truck at 9:30 a.m., with the Lifestar helicopter visit expected at 10 a.m.

For more information on the Westfarms Mall, visit www.shopwestfarms.com, visit its Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/WestfarmsMall, or visit it on Instagram: www.instagram.com/wswestfarmsmall.