Toy Collection A Go Despite Palatine Pub Crawl Cancellation

PALATINE, IL — The American Legion Post 690 parking lot at 122 West Palatine Road in Palatine announced Thursday that it will be a drive by drop off site from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for an annual Toys for Tots fundraiser. This announcement comes as the annual "Mike and Paul Pub Crawl" was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Daily Herald, so community members are invited to bring unwrapped toys to the American Legion Post 690 parking lot this weekend. Toys can be for any age up to teenagers, the news report added.

Friends Mike Zyer and Paul Munagian went from from bar to bar in downtown Palatine 19 years ago, and decided to turn it into a yearly festivity with family and friends. The pub crawl then grew to add a Toys for Tots drive with American Legion Post 690. Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them Christmas gifts.

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The Palatine Police and Fire Benevolent Association is partnering with the U.S. Marine Corp's by collecting toys in and around the Palatine area during the holiday season, the Village of Palatine said, in a news release. According to Daily Herald, the American Legion's donation, including donations from the pub crawl is the largest locally, firefighter Daniel Vrbancic told the news source. Toys will be collected Dec. 7 by the association from these 11 collection sites in the Palatine area, and picked up Dec. 8 by the Marine Corps Reserve.

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