Lake County Gazette

A Chicagoland-area Illinois State House Representative put his support in early this year for a local foster care and adoption group's upcoming toy drive in Barrington.

Illinois State House Rep. Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) posted to Facebook about the annual Let It Be Us Toy Drive For Foster Care at Barrington's White House at 145 W Main St., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 and Friday, Dec. 10.

"Please consider helping!" Bos said in his Facebook post.

Bos' post linked to Let If Be Us' own Facebook post two days earlier about the  drive, announcing they are working with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services office in Waukegan, CASA of Lake County and group homes. Gifts collected "will be distributed to the neediest children," Let It Be Us said in its post.

"While you are doing holiday shopping for your family, please consider all the children in Illinois foster care that may not receive gifts this year," Let It Be Us continued.

The organization advocates for youths in Illinois foster care, recruits foster and adoptive parents and raises awareness about foster-to-adopt options.

Bos has represented Illinois' 51st district since shortly after defeating then-incumbent Democrat Mary Edly-Allen in last year's 2020 general election.

The 51st district includes all or parts of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Buffalo Grove, Deer Park, Forest Lake, Grayslake, Green Oaks, Gurnee, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lake Barrington, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Long Grove, Mettawa, Mundelein, North Barrington, Tower Lakes, Vernon Hills, Wauconda, and Waukegan.

Let It Be Us is asking for new, unwrapped toy donations in this year's drive to be dropped off at Barrington's White House. This year's list of requested toys include gift cards from Target, Walmart, Jewel or Amazon; Pack & Plays, Crib Sheets, and other sorts of infant bedding; Legos and Lego Sets; Art Supplies for any age; PAW Patrol Toys; P J Masks Toys; Puzzles for any age; Dinosaur Toys; African American dolls for all ages; Hatchimals; Peppa Pig Toys; Minecraft Games; Plants Vs Zombies Games; science kits for any age; Beyblades toys; Polaroid Cameras for kids; Bakugan toys; craft kits for any age; Mega Blocks; building blocks; Melissa & Doug cleaning sets & kitchen sets; Dungeons & Dragons games; board games for any age; Clunky Puzzles for ages 12 to 24 months; tool belts and kits; Big Wheels; Clue Jr board games; matching games; water bottles to decorate; jewelry making kits for any age; make-up  and pretend kits; Lego Dots toys; basketball hoops for doorways; Bluetooth speakers; baseballs and bats, gloves and mitts; Slime kits; ear buds; Jenga & Jenga Jr. games; chess and checker sets; EZ Bake Ovens; Cubs/Bears/Bulls merchandise; Lite Brite sets'; Crayola Light Board drawing tablets; Go Glam Nail Stampers; Play-Doh kits and Melissa & Doug scratch art boxes.

A Let It Be Us toy drive also is happening in Champaign, where supporters are collecting Legos, Lite Brite toys, art sets and more, according to a post this week on the organization's Facebook page.

"Join Let It Be Us as we focus on a community and brighten the days of children in foster care by gifting them something special. Thank you to all those who will donate and a big thanks to the Champaign Sheriff's Department for collecting the toys!" the post said.