Dear BeyondTheNest readers:

Today, we kick off the annual Pirate Toy Fund Toy Drive, as we do every year, to help the Pirate Toy Fund collect toys to help needy kids in the Rochester area for the holidays and year-round. We need your help to make their goal of 30,000 toys this week!

The Pirate Toy Fund helps children who are ill, may have special needs, are victims of domestic violence or experience unexpected life-changing events. PTF was started 30 years ago by Gary the Happy Pirate, who, sadly, passed away last year. But his legacy continues; the Pirate Toy Fund is stronger than ever, which is good, because the need is high in our area all year round.

The main 2025 Toy Drive starts today and continues through next Saturday, December 6. You can drop off new, unwrapped toys in person at multiple Rochester-area locations, including all three malls, Kinecta FCU locations, Howard Hanna Real Estate offices, Mark's Pizzeria, Strong Museum, RMSC, and Wegmans. As you're shopping for deals this weekend, please just pick up an extra toy and drop it off!

Or... give it to Otto and shake his hand in person! Here is where you can interact with the PTF team during the drive this week:

The Toy Drive week culminates in the Big Reveal next Saturday afternoon at the Strong Museum to find out whether we've made the collection goal. Typically, the goal for the annual drive week is 25,000 toys collected. But this year, to celebrate their 30th anniversary, the Pirate Toy Fund's stretch goal is 30,000 toys, and I'm hoping you'll help them make it!

You can also easily donate online! I helped the PTF create the first online toy drive in 2020 during the pandemic, when we all couldn't get out and about to donate in person. It's super-easy: Each $20 donated purchases a toy for a Rochester-area child in need. It counts toward the goal if you do it by December 6!

Rochester is an incredibly generous community, and I am proud to live here. Thank you in advance for helping our community's neediest kids this holiday season.

Hugs and happy holidays,

Deb

Debra Ross

Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com

We periodically send special editions of the BeyondTheNest.com e-newsletter to showcase an important upcoming event or opportunity. This is one of those! Thanks for being part of our community!