WAND's Spirit of Giving underway in Decatur

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - WAND's Spirit of Giving Toy Drive is collecting toys and monetary donations Friday.

WAND's Spirit of Giving 2025

Donations will be accepted until 6 p.m. outside WAND's Decatur studios at 904 W. South Side Drive.

Decatur Firefighters Local 505 was the first organization to make a monetary donation to the annual toy drive. President Jeremy Ruderman presented Macon County Toys for Tots with a check for $505.

A woman was the first to make a toy donation just a few minutes before 6 a.m.

The annual event, now in its 16th year, benefits the Decatur and Macon County Toys for Tots program.

Anyone can drop off new, unwrapped toys. Several businesses, first responders, non-profits and churches take part in various ways.

A group from Austin Industrial donated more than 400 toys Friday morning. Brian Wofford from Storage Masters donated several bicycles, something Wofford has done for several years. Hogan Grain and Equipment donated a Kubota Toy Tractor. Monte Hogan and his company have donated a toy tractor for a number of years.

Santa Claus made an appearance Friday morning and is expected to check-in throughout the day.

"These donations are helpful around Christmastime as the elves at the North Pole continue working on toys for later this month," Santa said while collecting toys from Decatur Transit Authority. "I've checked my list and I need to check it twice but I'm happy we are all making sure every child gets at least one toy this holiday season."

Cromwell Media, a collection of radio stations in central Illinois, broadcasts live from the toy drive to help collect donations.

Since the event started more than 84,000 toys have been collected for children of central Illinois.

Annual Spirit of Giving toy drive will help bless thousands of local children