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Staff Report

WARSAW — It’s time to empty your toy boxes and bookshelves and let those toys and books bring joy to someone else.

The annual Toy Time is scheduled to take place in the Home & Family Arts building at Kosciusko County Fairgrounds beginning Dec. 13.

Event organizer Ami Pitt partners with Toys for Tots and American Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) to raise funds to purchase new toys for the annual Combined Community Services toy giveaway.

“It’s three separate entities working together. We raise money to buy new toys and add it to the toys given by ABATE and Toys for Tots,” Pitt said. “We are so grateful to be working alongside ABATE Treasures for Kids and Toys for Tots to help provide gifts to the families of our 1,500 plus Kosciusko County kids.”

Used toys and children’s items may be brought to the Home & Family Arts Building at the fairgrounds, located at 1400 E. Smith St., Warsaw, between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 13-16. 

Volunteers will price the items and put them up for sale.

Those who bring in items for consignment will receive 50 percent from any of their items that are sold at the public sale. The other 50 percent will go toward the purchase of new toys to help families who are struggling to buy Christmas gifts this year. 

As always, you may donate your share of the proceeds. Items that aren’t sold will be re-homed as Christmas gifts.

Donations of Bibles are also appreciated. 

The toy sale will be held from 9 a.m. — 9 p.m. Dec. 18, and from 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. Dec. 19.

The CCS toy giveaway will be from 9 a.m. — 9 p.m. Dec. 21, and from 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. Dec. 22. 

There will be modifications for enhanced safety again this year, including mask requirements and social distancing during drop-offs, the toy sale and the giveaway.

Pitt said she appreciates the Kosciusko County Fair Board allowing them to use the Home & Family Arts building every year for the past 28 years for this event.

More information can be found on the It’s Toy Time! Facebook page.