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Thursday, 10 December, 2009 1:30 AM

102.9 W4 Country raises Toys for Tots at Kroger on Maple Rd. in Ann Arbor

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

102.9 W4 Country is asking its listeners and the community to come out and support the Toys for Tots during the radio station's annual Holiday Crusade for Kids.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- 102.9 W4 Country (WWWW-FM) is collecting Toys for Tots during its annual Holiday Crusade for Kids at the Kroger grocery store at 400 S. Maple Road in Ann Arbor. The toy drive began on Wednesday, Dec. 9 and ends on Monday, Dec. 14. The radio station has set a goal of more than 16,000 toys and $16,000 in cash donations. The entire W4 air staff will broadcast live all week from inside the grocery store. The only difference from last year is that the economy is in much worse shape.

"We're accepting the new and unwrapped toys from all over the place," said Adam Rey, afternoon disc jockey at W4 Country. "We're at one of the only places where you can bring a cash donation too. A lot of people find it easy to bring the young, little kid toy. People forget that the teenagers that are at home watching these kids, they need toys too or they need something. A lot of the time I like to push gift certificates and things for the older kids."

W4 Country is on location at the Kroger store asking for your toys and monetary donations during the week from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

"Going off of last year's numbers, we provided over 80,000 kids with toys," said Sgt. Brian Schultz of the U.S. Marine Corps. Reserves. "This year, I assume it will be going up. We collected about 254,000 toys. Roughly what we try to do is get two toys per child that's in need. There is quite a need in this area. Where the toys are collected is where they stay. The toys in Ann Arbor will stay in Ann Arbor."

Each year, listeners come out to support their local country station and drop off toys. The greatest need is for the older children -- teenagers. Listeners always bring more than enough toys for the young ones first. Some of the items requested for the teens include CDs, DVDs, science kits, telescopes, make-up, among others.

"We've had really good response," said Sue Schwartzenberger, director of education at Stony Creek Bead. It is one of W4 Country's Toys for Tots drop off locations. "We're mostly a bead, jewelry supply store. We do have classes, kits, books and patterns and wonderful stuff. We have finished jewelry. There's some wonderful pieces for gift giving for Christmas. I think W4 is doing great with this whole Toys for Tots thing. We're really happy to be a part of it."

The country radio station will use the donated money to purchase additional toys for the Marines' Toys for Tots campaign. All of the toys collected will be given to less fortunate children in the area.

"I actually brought some cookies in," said Niki Polzin, a resident of Dexter, Mich. "I'm a little financially cramped myself this year. I had all the makings in the cupboard for some cookies so I brought some oatmeal cookies down. Keep all the staff happy and for the occasional kids that walk by, they can have a cookie until they're gone. I think this is the third year I've brought baked goods down.

"Last year, I was able to bring a couple of toys but I do what I can when I can. W4 is doing a great thing. I hope everyone comes and helps them. I know the need is getting bigger and bigger. Anyone who can come out and help, do it. Even if it's just baking cookies."

The radio station is in a new location this year. In previous years, it was held inside the Oak Valley Centre and Briarwood Mall. Now, the Toys for Tots drive is located inside the Kroger Store at 400 S. Maple Road in Ann Arbor, two exits west of State Street off of I-94.

"We give 100 percent of all the donations to the kids," Sgt. Schultz added. "We don't collect anything from it. It's a non-profit organization. It's one of the few where we don't have any operating costs so to speak. So it goes straight to the kids."

For listeners who can't make it out to the drop-off location, there are satellite locations at:

Click here to visit 102.9 W4 Country's official website.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The Kroger store is located at 400 S. Maple Rd. in Ann Arbor, Mich.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

W4 Country is on location at the Kroger store asking for your toys and monetary donations during the week from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com