Saint Mary's University Collecting Toys for Tots Donations

Saint Mary's University will collect Toys for Tots donations at its campuses this winter, including , according to a news release.

The public can drop off new, unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve program through Dec. 18 in bins inside the door of the Apple Valley campus, or at the Minneapolis, Oakdale, Minnetonka and Rochester campuses.

Saint Mary's is focusing on particular age ranges for its toy donations, to encourage creativity and education, the release says:

• Ages 0-2:  Blocks, rhythm instruments, wooden puzzles, picture books, push-pull toys, nesting toys

• Ages 15-17:  Legos, complex models, hobby kits (such as jewelry-making), board games, small electronic games, puzzles, magnetic poetry, journals

According to the release, Toys for Tots has provided more than 435 million toys to more than 202 million children in the years it has existed. Last year, more than 16 million toys went to 7.2 million children in more than 700 U.S. communities.