7th Annual ABC 7 Holiday Toy Drive Presented by IHOP

CHICAGO (WLS) -- It's that time of year to get into the holiday spirit and help those in need. The 7th Annual ABC 7 Holiday Toy Drive presented by IHOP kicks off - so from now until Dec. 15, we are encouraging viewers to stop by a local IHOP with a new unwrapped toy to donate. There will be bins prominently displayed to take your donation - and IHOP has a gift for you: for your toy donation you will receive a $5 gift certificate for use in January at participating locations.

Plus we're checking out IHOP's new holiday menu. Celebrate the holiday season with IHOP's new limited time menu in partnership with The Elf on the Shelf. Scout elves took over the IHOP kitchen to create a magical line-up for guests of all ages. Kids 12 and under eat free with the purchase of one adult entrée every day from 4 to 10 p.m. All restaurants are adopting their own Scout Elves so come into your local IHOP to see what they are up to.

Donations go to "Toys For Tots," and from the Marines, Gunnery Sargent Alfonso Garcia and Veteran Marine George Heyman stopped by WCL to tell us what your donation means to a child in need.

For the fourth year in a row we are having a "Stuff the Truck" event on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 4:30 - 9 a.m. at the IHOP in Melrose Park. Tracy Butler and some Marines will be LIVE during the morning newscasts, collecting new, unwrapped toys. You can stop by and help us make a child's wish come true this holiday season. Val and Ryan will stop by too!

We are kicking off the drive on Veterans Day because IHOP wants to salute and thank all active and retired service men and women by offering them free "Red, White & Blue" pancakes when they show a valid military ID. This offer is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11. Valid identification includes U.S. Uniform Services ID Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired ID Card, Current Leave and Earning Statement, Veteran's Organization Card, Photograph in Uniform, wearing of a uniform, Citation or Commendation, or Military Dog Tags.

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots goal is "to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens."

The following is a suggested list of toys for donation:

Wish List For Children Infant - Age 13:

Participating IHOP locations include:

ADDISON, IL - 1671 W Lake St

AURORA, IL - 583 S. Route 59

AURORA, IL - 2455 N. Augusta

BOLINGBROOK, IL - 730 N. Janes Ave.

BOURBONNAIS, IL - 1347 Kinneman Drive

BRIDGEVIEW,IL - 7240 W 79th Street

BUFFALO GROVE, IL - 51 McHenry Road

CHICAGO, IL - N. Halsted & Broadway

CHICAGO, IL - Cicero Ave., north of Irving Park Rd.

CHICAGO, IL - Diversey Ave., at California

CHICAGO, IL - N. Lincoln Ave., South of Peterson

CHICAGO, IL - On South Cicero, Ford City Mall

CICERO, IL - Target Plaza - Corner of 31st and Cicero Ave.

CRESTWOOD, IL - Cal Sag Rd. and Cicero Ave.

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL - 6606 Northwest Hwy.

DEKALB, IL - 131 N. Annie Glidden Rd.

ELGIN, IL - Lake St. and Randall Rd.

EVANSTON, IL - Asbury, Howard & N. Western Ave.

GLENVIEW, IL - Willow Road, in front of Kohl's

HAMMOND, IN - 938 Indianapolis Ave.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL, IL - Barrington Rd., at I-90

JOLIET, IL - Larkin Ave., just south of Theodore

KENOSHA, WI - 7200 75th Street

LANSING, IL - 2430 173rd Street

MATTESON, IL - 20900 Cicero Ave

McHENRY, IL - Rt. 1-20, just west of IL Rt. 31

MELROSE PARK, IL - 1040 W. North Ave.

MERRILLVILLE, IN - E. 79th St., just off Rt. 30 (Costco Plaza)

MICHIGAN CITY, IN - 5225 Franklin St.

MORRIS, IL - I-80 and Rt. 47

NEW LENOX, IL - 411 E. Lincoln Hwy.

NORRIDGE, IL - 7056 West Forest Preserve Dr.

ORLAND PARK IL - La Grange Rd., across from Orland Sq. Mall

OSWEGO, IL - 2850 US Hwy. 34, in front of Home Depot

PERU, IL - 4383 Venture Dr., across from Target

ROSEMONT, IL - 7120 N. Mannheim Rd.

SCHAUMBURG, IL - 1700 E. Higgins Rd.

SKOKIE, IL - Skokie Blvd., south of Golf Rd.

ST. CHARLES, IL - 125 Smith Rd., Corner of Smith Rd. and North Ave.

VERNON HILLS, IL - Milwaukee Ave and Town Line Rd.

WAUKEGAN, IL - 2662 Belvidere Rd.