The Boys and Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe has begun its annual Christmas Toy Drive Monday, Dec. 1. The Boys and Girls Club is looking for toys for children of all ages, including infants. Toys should be unwrapped and not exceed ten dollars.

Lindsay Box BGC mentor coordinator said that the turn out last year was great, “but it’s always a goal to do better,” she said.

“We want to reach more families than we did last year,” Augusta Burch, BGC program specialist added.

Last year, BGC was selected and was donated two pallets of toys to help the cause, Box said. This year BGC is hoping to be selected again, but it is uncertain if they will be at this time.

This year the Los Pinos Fire Department will be helping out with the delivery of the toys on Tuesday, Dec 23. The BGC staff will be riding around on the fire truck handing out toys at random, Box said.

There is no specific time the fire truck will be at a specific location, so the community will have to be on the look out for the truck if they wish to receive a gift.

Also new this year is BGCSU Day at the Durango Toy Depot Saturday, Dec 13. For every Bric Tek racecar set sold that day, Durango Toy Depot will match it by donating a Bric Tek racecar set to the toy drive, Box said.

If you plan on purchasing a Bric Tek racecar set this holiday season you can help BGGSU’s toy drive by purchasing it at the Durango Toy Depot Saturday, Dec. 13.

Drop locations can be found around town at the following locations: Southern Ute Growth Fund, SunUte Community Center, Ignacio schools, The Patio Restaurant, Ignacio Community Library, Thriftway, 7-2-11, Wells Fargo, Three Springs and the Leonard C. Burch Building.

The Boys and Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe can be reached for questions at 970-563-4753.