More than 250 children walked out of Village Hall with armfuls of gifts Saturday as Park Forest hosted its annual community Toy Drive, an event officials say reflects the heart of the Village during the holiday season.

Held on Dec. 6, this year’s drive was powered by more than a dozen sponsors and community partners, whose contributions helped the Village distribute more than 2,000 toys. According to organizers, Park Forest purchased roughly 1,000 toys for the event, while an additional 1,000 were donated by sponsoring organizations and residents. Each child received a minimum of four gifts, ranging from dolls and board games to action figures, craft kits, and sports equipment.

Community Relations Manager Evelyn Randle said the turnout and generosity exceeded expectations.

“This event is spearheaded by the Commission on Human Relations, Community Relations Manager, and the Youth Commission contributed monetarily, along with a hand in wrapping," Randle said. "Yes, we wrapped all 2000 gifts with a boatload of Santa Helpers. This event allows the commission to highlight local volunteers with big hearts and helping hands.

Randle added, “We know the holidays can be a tough time for many families, and ensuring every child walks away with toys they’re excited about is incredibly important to us.”  

Randle said families began lining up early, many expressing gratitude for the support during a year marked by rising costs.

“You could see the excitement on the kids’ faces the moment they walked through the doors,” Randle said. “But what really touched us were the parents who told us how much this helped them give their children a joyful Christmas. We’re truly grateful to everyone who made that possible.”

Sponsors featured in the Village’s promotional materials included local businesses, civic organizations, commissions, and regional partners whose contributions helped stock Village Hall with toys stacked nearly to the ceiling.

Randle noted that the drive’s success reflects the strength of Park Forest’s community partnerships.

“This is what Park Forest is all about — neighbors, businesses, and organizations coming together to support our families,” she said. “We couldn’t do this without our sponsors, and we’re thankful for every single one of them.”

Randle said planning for next year’s toy drive is already underway, with hopes of serving even more children in 2026.