Garrison-MN Toys for Tots

12/24/2025

As our season comes to a close, we’re turning it all over to the big guy in the red suit. Santa will take it from here.

From all of us at Garrison-MN Toys for Tots, thank you for the kindness, the generosity, and the countless moments that reminded us what this season is really about.

We wish you joy and peace this Christmas, and may you never be too old to search the skies on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas, everyone! 🎅✨

12/13/2025

🎄 What a Magical Day! 🎄
Well, that’s a wrap on our 2025 Toys For Tots Toy Distribution, and I’m honestly overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of this amazing community. The donations poured in, and the spirit of giving was absolutely heartwarming. Thank you just doesn’t seem big enough to express how grateful we are. I am so proud to be a part of this loving and caring community!

Because of YOU, we were able to serve over 800 kids today! Just think about that – over 800 smiles! While we didn’t get to see those smiles in person, we know that the parents picking up gifts today were smiling from ear to ear. Just knowing each child will feel a little brighter and special this season makes everything worth it.

None of this would have been possible without our amazing volunteers. It’s impossible to list every name, but those who braved the subzero temperatures today truly warmed my heart, and I am forever grateful for your dedication and kindness.

A special thank you to our wonderful hosts, Onamia Veteran's Club , for allowing us to use your space and helping make this day so magical. And, of course, a huge shout out to the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office and Mille Lacs Tribal Police for their help delivering toys to waiting families, Pastor Dave from Onamia Alliance Church who blessed all of the toys, the Mille Lacs Area Social Concerns goup who brougjt over bags of fruit for eac family, and our special guests — The Grinch and Santa, all the way from the North Pole! 🎅

Today, we made some real magic happen, and I couldn’t be more proud.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to each and every one of you who made this possible. Here's to a community that truly cares. ❤️🧑‍🎄🎅🎄❤️❤️

PS: for some reason Facebook won’t let me post the videos and photos at the same time today. So look for some fun videos in another post.

12/13/2025

Today is the day! The Toys For Tots Distribution begins at 1 pm today, Saturday, Dec. 13. At the Onamia vets club. Hours are 1-3 pm.

Volunteers are putting last minute touches on to ensure a smooth service.

12/13/2025

🎁 Just one more sleep until our annual Toys for Tots Toy Distribution! 🎁

We’re beyond excited to spread some holiday cheer tomorrow!

🗓 When: Saturday, December 13th
📍 Where: Onamia Veteran's Club
⏰ Time: 1-3 PM
🚗 Drive-thru style distribution

A huge shoutout to our incredible volunteers who rallied today to move toys from the North Pole to the Onamia Vets Club. They worked tirelessly to sort and organize all of the amazing donations we received. We’re truly blown away by the generosity of this community!

And let’s not forget the heartwarming financial donations that are making it all possible. You all have gone above and beyond!

These toys are not just toys — they’re hope, joy, and the extend feeling that every child is seen, loved, and cared for. Our goal is to male sure that no child is forgotten this holiday season.

We are incredibly grateful to be part of this amazing community. Thank you for stepping up and showing up. You’re truly changing the world, one toy at a time. 🌟

We can’t wait to share the magic tomorrow!

🤫 P.S. Don’t tell the kids, but here’s a sneak peek at some of the toys! 😉

12/09/2025

A huge, heartfelt thank you to the Isle Lions for their generous donation to our local Toys For Tots campaign. Your kindness is more than a contribution — it’s a reminder of how deeply this community cares for one another.

This community has truly shown up and shown out. Acts of generosity like this make our community stronger and remind us of the positive impact every single person can make in this world. We are so grateful. 💛🎁

12/06/2025

🎁✨ HELP US GET THE WORD OUT! ✨🎁
The Toys For Tots Toy Distribution is almost here!

📅 Saturday, December 13, 2025
📍 Onamia Veteran's Club
⏰ 1–3 p.m.

If you know a family in need in the Mille Lacs Lake area—or in southern Crow Wing, southern Aitkin, or Mille Lacs counties—please let them know.

No child should miss out on the magic of Christmas. Please share and help us make sure every family who needs us can be there. ❤️

12/06/2025

Oh my goodness! We are just blown away by the generosity of this community. Jr's Junction customers have done it again! The donations are just pouring in during our final days of donations and our hearts are full.

This — THIS — is why we believe in the magic of Christmas. This community’s truly unstoppable is truly unstoppable. Your kindness is heartwarming and inspiring. YOU are making a difference. Thank you, all of you, for your incredible support.

🎁🔥 THIS ONE DESERVES A STANDING OVATION 🔥🎁

We are absolutely blown away.

101 GIFTS.
Yes — ONE HUNDRED AND ONE Toys for Tots gifts were just donated by Fetters Construction. 💙🧸🚲🧩

This isn’t just a donation — this is commitment, heart, and community showing up in the biggest way possible. Because of Fetters Construction, 101 local kids will have something special under the tree this Christmas. 🎄✨

This kind of generosity doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when a business truly cares about people, about families, and about doing what’s right — especially when it matters most.

👏👏 THANK YOU, Fetters Construction 👏👏
Your kindness is making a real difference, and we are so proud to be part of a community that steps up like this.

📍 Donations are still being accepted at JR’s Junction
🎁 New, unwrapped toys
❤️ Let’s keep the momentum rolling

Who’s next? 😉

12/05/2025

Our distribution is just around the corner. We are down to the wire and Jr's Junction and their customers understood the assignment! They are pulling out all the stops.

Thank you to all of those who have donated funds or toys. Every donation counts.

This is what the giving season is all about. A huge thank you to the anonymous donor. JRs post said it best… it is truly special giving quietly — no spotlight, no recognition required. Just pure integrity, generosity, and heart. Your kindness speaks louder than any words. It reminds us all what the holiday season is about. And your donation will bring the magic of Christmas to a lot of kiddos and remind them that Santa didn’t forget them. And that there is a whole community of caring generous people.

Every toy, every donation brings that. And we are grateful for every single one. Thank you.

🎁 ANOTHER HUGE TOYS FOR TOTS SHOUTOUT! 🎁

Camp Lake Association just rolled in with a box and a HALF of toys — and they are now TIED for the lead in donations! 🙌🎅✨

These folks didn’t just show up… they showed OUT with holiday spirit for our local kiddos. ❤️

So here’s the deal…
The friendly competition just got REAL. 👀🔥
Platte Lake Association started it…
Camp Lake Association matched it…

Who’s jumping in next??
💪 Lake associations
🎣 Clubs
🏠 Local businesses
🎄 Festive friends
…your move! 😉

Let’s keep filling these boxes and make this the biggest year yet for Toys for Tots at JR’s Junction! 🎁✨
Bring a new, unwrapped toy anytime before the week of December 7th and help spread some Christmas magic.

Thank you, Camp Lake Association Sheree Gruenhagen Karen Tobiason Moe Joe Moe — you’ve made Santa proud! 🎅❤️

12/05/2025

🎁 This is INCREDIBLE news for all of us at Toys For Tots! 🎁

Jr's Junction just set a new record for the Garrison/Mille Lacs Toys For Tots drive — truly blowing past anything we’ve ever seen. Their energy and generosity are absolutely contagious!

Platte Lake Property Owners Association lit the spark early and kicked off this season with a massive challenge to other associations and businesses. And then Lake Association stepped in and didn’t just answer the call… they cranked it up even higher and took it to the next level!

Because of this community’s unbelievable momentum, we’re bringing Christmas magic to so many local kiddos who might otherwise go without. ❤️

🎄 There’s still time to donate! Let’s pack every single box to the brim!

Find donation boxes at:
• Deerwood Bank Garrison
• Garrison VFW Post 1816
• Salon of Garrison
• Onamia Veteran's Club
• Teals Market – Isle
• Garrison Dollar General
• Malmo Dollar General
• Agnew’s Hardware – Onamia
• Deerwood Ace Hardware

Let’s keep this incredible wave of generosity going! 🎅✨

🎁 ANOTHER HUGE TOYS FOR TOTS SHOUTOUT! 🎁

Camp Lake Association just rolled in with a box and a HALF of toys — and they are now TIED for the lead in donations! 🙌🎅✨

These folks didn’t just show up… they showed OUT with holiday spirit for our local kiddos. ❤️

So here’s the deal…
The friendly competition just got REAL. 👀🔥
Platte Lake Association started it…
Camp Lake Association matched it…

Who’s jumping in next??
💪 Lake associations
🎣 Clubs
🏠 Local businesses
🎄 Festive friends
…your move! 😉

Let’s keep filling these boxes and make this the biggest year yet for Toys for Tots at JR’s Junction! 🎁✨
Bring a new, unwrapped toy anytime before the week of December 7th and help spread some Christmas magic.

Thank you, Camp Lake Association Sheree Gruenhagen Karen Tobiason Moe Joe Moe — you’ve made Santa proud! 🎅❤️

12/01/2025

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Onamia Veteran's Club for the incredibly generous contribution to our local Toys for Tots campaign. Your gift will go a long way toward making Christmas magical for many of our local children who might otherwise go without.

Although this donation is remarkable and deeply appreciated, overall giving is down this season and Santa’s toy bag is still a bit light. We have not yet reached our goal — but there is still time, and still hope. If you are able, please consider donating and helping ensure every child experiences the joy of the season.

Ways to donate:

🎁Donate a new unwrapped toy in any of our collection boxes
💻Donate online directly to our local campaign through our Garrison-mn.toysfortots.org website
☎️Send a text message to 218-820-7359 for other options

11/30/2025

Ever wonder where your dollar donations go? A group of fantastic volunteers were on a mission today! We set out to visit a fabulous Toys For Tots national sponsor at the St. Cloud Five Below to purchase toys today! The staff was so gracious and very helpful pointing our shoppers in the right direction of some great toys and great deals. We could not have been more pleased. We had so much fun and are so excited to give these fabulous gifts to so many children.
Time is running out and we are ahort of our goal. Santa’s sleigh is running a little light. But With your support, Toys for Tots can fill the box with toys for children who might otherwise go without. Every gift makes Santa’s sleigh a little fuller — and a child’s Christmas a whole lot brighter. Let’s make sure no child wakes up empty handed. Please consider donating a new unwrapped toy at one of our donation locations or you can donate online at garrison-mn.toysfortots.org
Every dollar and every toy makes a difference.
Thank you!