Highground Veterans Memorial Park hosting toy, clothing drive

The Highground Veterans Memorial Park is helping out those in need this holiday season. The park is a drop-off location for Toys for Tots this year. Toys will be collected through Dec. 3. Any new, unwrapped toy can be brought to The Highground gift shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Some gift ideas include larger Lego sets, Nerf guns, remote control items, books, puzzles, craft items, headphones, speakers, makeup sets, colognes/Axe, phone accessories, board games, art stuff, Pokémon cards, car tools or a car emergency kit (older teen items for their real cars).

Also, The Highground’s winter clothing drive is going on now through March 31. Again, items can be dropped off weekdays between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the gift shop.

Most-needed items include winter jackets, boots, hats, gloves/mittens, new socks and new underclothing, as well as hand warmers and full-size toiletry items (shampoo, soap, shaving cream, etc.).

The Highground distributes items to houseless veterans, families in need, the Wisconsin Veterans Home in Chippewa Falls, the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Clark County and Every Third Saturday (a charity for homeless veterans) in Minneapolis.

The Highground collects and distributes items to homeless veterans year-round; however, the need is significantly more acute during the winter months.

If there are veteran agencies out there that could use items, reach out to The Highground. For questions, email Theresa at museum@thehighground.org or call 715-743-4224.