ABC7 presents Disney Ultimate Toy Drive sponsored by IHOP, The RoomPlace
Tracy Butler hosted 'Stuff the Truck' drive-thru toy drive LIVE on ABC7 Eyewitness News on Nov. 30 from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- As part of the Disney Ultimate Toy Drive, sponsored by IHOP and The RoomPlace, ABC7 Chicago meteorologist Tracy Butler hosted a "Stuff the Truck" toy drive, live on ABC7 Eyewitness News' "Giving Tuesday," Nov. 30 from 4:30-7 a.m. ABC7 viewers had the chance to bring the joy of the season to Chicago-area children when they donated new, unwrapped toys and "Stuff the Truck" stationed at the IHOP Melrose Park location (1040 W. North Avenue). The drive-thru event allowed people to stay in their cars safely and "Stuff the Truck" for kids in need this holiday season by helping out the U.S. Marine's Toys for Tots initiative.
WATCH: IHOP assistant manager describes importance of Toy Drive
WATCH: RoomPlace VP of Stores describes his favorite toy during holiday drive
This is the eighth year ABC7 has partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps for their Toys for Tots efforts. Tracy was joined by Sgt. Yizet Vargas to talk about this annual event and their mission: "To distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas."
WATCH: Marines given $11K check for Toys for Tots
James McCracken and Sean Parris, stars of the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie "Christmas...Again?!," set to release on Dec. 3, were special guests at the "Stuff the Truck" toy drive. McCracken, who is from the Chicago area and Parris, who is based in Chicago, talked about the fun they had making this new movie which was filmed in the Windy City.
WATCH: Disney stars talk about new movie 'Christmas.. Again?!' at toy drive
For the sixth consecutive year, Immaculate Conception Grade School in Elmhurst, Illinois, has proudly participated in this special "Stuff the Truck" event. Fr. Thomas Paul and Principal Cathy Linley believe that helping others is what their students do best and that this toy drive provides a gratifying way to kick off the Christmas season by giving back to children in need.
WATCH: Immaculate Conception Grade School donates toys to holiday drive
The Scarpelli family (with Ray and Raymond Auto Group - Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge Jeep and Ram in Fox Lake and Kia and Chevrolet in Antioch) returned for their second year to "Stuff the Trunk" of their brand new Jeep Wagoneer with toys which they will donate.
WATCH: Ray Auto Group brings toys to holiday drive
Radio Flyer has been powering play and inspiring imagination in kids of all ages for more than 100 years. The Chicago-based company is dedicated to giving back to its community and is donating 40 toys including wagons, tricycles, and scooters!
WATCH: Radio Flyer representative happy to be back at toy drive
The Walt Disney Company has brought comfort, happiness and inspiration to kids and families in need during the holiday season with Toys for Tots. Disney is inspiring hope where it's needed most and has contributed a $500,000 donation to Toys for Toys.
WATCH: Disney donates $25K to Toys for Tots
The toy drive kicked off with hosts Val Ryan and Ryan Chiaverini on ABC 7's Windy City Weekend, Friday, Nov. 12, at 11:30 a.m. This is the eighth year that ABC 7 Chicago has joined forces with Toys for Tots.
The Disney Ultimate Toy Drive's mission has one focus: to help make a child's holiday wish come true. To that end, Val and Ryan encourage ABC 7 viewers to drop off new, unwrapped toys at participating IHOP or The RoomPlace locations from Nov. 11 through Dec. 19. The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve will then distribute those toys to less fortunate children in the community.
Toys for Tots Coordinators U.S. Marine Sgt. Yizet Vargas and Marine veteran George Hyman appeared on Windy City Weekend to talk about the impact of the Toys for Tots campaign on Nov. 12. They were joined by Armand Aviles, the district manager with IHOP and Valerie Knight, vice president for marketing with The RoomPlace.
The 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:
Books
Puzzles
Arts & Crafts
Musical Toys
Stuffed Animals
Cars & Trucks
Board Games
Action Figures
Blocks & Legos
Electronics
Infant Toys
Dolls
Participating IHOP locations include:
ADDISON, IL - 1671 W. Lake Street
AURORA, IL - 583 S. Route 59
AURORA, IL - 2455 Augusta Way
BOLINGBROOK, IL - 730 N. Janes Avenue
BOURBONNAIS, IL - 1347 Kinneman Drive
BRIDGEVIEW,IL - 7240 W. 79th Street
CHICAGO, IL - 3760 N. Halsted at Broadway
CHICAGO, IL - 4210 N. Cicero Avenue, north of Irving Park Road
CHICAGO, IL - 2818 W. Diversey Avenue, at California
CHICAGO, IL - 5929 N. Lincoln Avenue, south of Peterson
CHICAGO, IL - 7601 S. Cicero, Ford City Mall
CICERO, IL - 3003 S. Cicero, Target Plaza - corner of 31st and Cicero Avenue
CRESTWOOD, IL - 4821 Cal Sag Road at Cicero Avenue
CRYSTAL LAKE, IL - 6606 Northwest Highway
ELGIN, IL - 101 S. Randall Road
EVANSTON, IL - 100 Asbury Avenue, Howard and N. Western Avenue
HAMMOND, IN - 938 Indianapolis Avenue
HILLSIDE, IL - 100 S. Mannheim Road
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL - 2250 Barrington Road
LANSING, IL - 2430 173rd Street
MATTESON, IL - 20900 Cicero Avenue
McHENRY, IL - 4228 W. Elm Street
MELROSE PARK, IL - 1040 W. North Avenue
MERRILLVILLE, IN - 1474 E. 79th Street, just off Route 30 (Costco Plaza)
MICHIGAN CITY, IN - 5225 Franklin Street
MORRIS, IL - 60 Hampton Street, I-80 and Route 47
NORRIDGE, IL - 7056 W. Forest Preserve Drive
OSWEGO, IL - 2850 U.S. Highway 34, in front of Home Depot
PERU, IL - 4383 Venture Drive, across from Target
ROSEMONT, IL - 7120 N. Mannheim Road
SCHAUMBURG, IL - 1700 E. Higgins Road
SCHEREVILLE, IL - 1850 U.S. Highway 41
SKOKIE, IL - 9500 Skokie Boulevard, south of Golf Road
ST. CHARLES, IL - 125 Smith Road, corner of Smith Road and North Avenue
VERNON HILLS, IL - 700 N. Milwaukee Avenue at Town Line Road
WAUKEGAN, IL - 2662 Belvidere Road
Participating The RoomPlace locations include:
ALGONQUIN - 2471 Randall Rd.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS - 40 E. Rand Rd
AURORA - 732 N. Route 59 (Fox Valley)
BLOOMINGDALE - 215 Gary Ave.
CHICAGO - 2525 N. Harlem Ave.
CHICAGO - 2575 N. Elston Ave.
CHICAGO - 8027 S. Cicero Ave.
DOWNERS GROVE - 1500 W. 75'th St.
GURNEE - 6148 W. Grand Ave.
HOMEWOOD - 18150 S. Halsted St.
JOLIET - 2724 Plainfield Rd.
KENOSHA, WI. - 7014B Green Bay Rd.
LINCOLNWOOD - 3333 W. Touhy
LOMBARD - 1000-46 Rohlwing Rd.
McHENRY - 2221 Richmond Rd.
MERRILLVILLE, IN. - 2881 E. Lincoln Highway
ORLAND PARK - 14920 S. LaGrange Rd.
PEORIA - 2200 W. War Memorial Dr.
ROCKFORD - 7300 E. State Street
SCHAUMBURG - 156 E. Golf Rd.
For those who can't make a donation at one of the above locations, toy donations can be made at ShopDisney.com until Dec. 24.
About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago
ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.6 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space to Chicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. Named Best News Operation by the Associated Press for four consecutive years, ABC 7 Eyewitness News produces "Chicago Proud," a series of features that spotlights everyday heroes in and around Chicago. The station also produces the highest-rated New Year's Eve special in Chicago, holiday kickoff special "The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival," syndicated to a national audience, as well as the award-winning program series "Our Chicago," which showcases the city's diversity and highlights contributions in the Black, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ+ communities, among others. Every Friday, Windy City Weekend, entertains while giving Chicagoans everything they need to know about what's happening in the city. ABC 7 is the only Chicago station producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago's rich cultural history. In addition to producing town halls focused on current social issues, the station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting political candidate debates keeping Chicago's electorate informed. ABC7's outreach efforts include annual partnerships with the Red Cross for life-saving blood drives, one of the biggest one-day drives in the country and, most recently, spearheading an effort to raise more than $1.5 million for area food pantries.
About International House Of Pancakes, LLC
For 63 years, IHOP has been a leader, innovator and expert in all things breakfast, any time of day. The chain offers 65 different signature, fresh, made-to-order breakfast options, a wide selection of popular lunch and dinner items as well as meals under 600 calories. IHOP restaurants offer guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. Today, there are more than 1,750 IHOP restaurants around the world, including restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam as well as Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Lebanon, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Thailand, and India. IHOP restaurants are franchised by affiliates of Glendale, Calif.- based Dine Brands Global. (NYSE: DIN).
About The RoomPlace
The RoomPlace is headquartered in Lombard, Illinois and serves Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin with 26 stores. The RoomPlace continues to succeed in today's highly competitive furniture and mattress market by offering value-conscious consumers excellent service and selection at affordable prices. For more information about The RoomPlace, visit TheRoomPlace.com.
