‘12 Hours of Salvation’ Toy Drive Dec. 7 at Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall

Staff Report

Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall, First Northern Credit Union and the Salvation Army partner again this year for the annual “12 Hours of Salvation Toy Drive” to collect toys for families in need in the stateline area.

Friday, Dec. 7, for the 16th year in a row, Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall will host a day-long toy drive benefiting the Salvation Army. The event begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m.

During the 12-hour drive, new, unwrapped toys from individuals and businesses will be accepted. The event will feature local choral groups singing Christmas carols, Santa Claus giving candy canes to all of the guests and the Salvation Army accepting toys at the dealership all day.

In past years, more than 90 percent of all the toys collected for the Salvation Army have come from this one-day drive.

The Salvation Army estimates thousands of families will benefit from this year’s toy drive. Toys will be distributed Dec. 20-21 through the Salvation Army Christmas Headquarters at 1515 E. Riverside Blvd. (former Sears Essentials building) to pre-registered families.

In 2011, the “12 Hours of Salvation Toy Drive” collected thousands of toys and more than $7,400 in cash for the Salvation Army.

All toys donated stay locally.

Since January 2000, Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall employees have donated part of their payroll checks every week with a company match, and during the month of November, a group of employee volunteers purchase toys with the funds collected. This year, Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall, Lou Bachrodt Buick GMC and its employees have donated almost $10,000 worth of toys to kick off this year’s drive.

From the Dec. 5-11, 2012, issue