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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Ann Arbor's 102.9 W4 Country (WWWW-FM) is raising toys in its annual Holiday Crusade for Kids at the Oak Valley Centre at I-94 and Ann Arbor-Saline Road. The toy drive began on Monday, Dec. 15 and ends today at 1 p.m.

The radio station has set a goal of 16,000 toys and $16,000 in cash donations. The entire W4 air staff has been broadcasting live all week from the shopping center. Even with the tough economy, W4 is likely to reach its goals.

"We almost didn't make the cash goal," said Adam Rey, afternoon disc jockey at W4 Country. "People have been trucking through. It's been better than I thought."

W4 Country needs to raise another $3,000 to meet its goal, as of 4 p.m. on Friday. The toy drive continues on Saturday when that amount is expected to be raised. The morning show hosts, Bubba and Katie, 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.

The radio station is in a new location this year. In previous years, it was held inside the Briarwood Mall. Now, it is located inside a store at the Oak Valley Centre, one exit west of State Street.

"It's harder to find, but much more calm," Rey said.

Each year, listeners come out to support their local country station and drop off toys. The greatest need is for the older children -- teenagers. People 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.

Key Bank, the presenting sponsor of the toy drive, matched monetary gifts for an hour on Friday. For those listeneres,who donated $10, it became $25.

For listeners who can't make it out to the drop-off location, there are satellite locations at all Key Bank branches, Marrs and Terry law firm, Backwoods Beef Jerkey, three Wireless Toys locations, Lewis Jewelers, Dundee Dental, 2/42 Community Church and Jeannie's Immaculate Cleaning.

W4 Country also offered some auction items for additional funds. For example, Detroit Pistons Tickets in a luxury suite, four hours of co-hosting the morning show, diamond earrings, among others. All of the money raised will go towards the purchasing of toys for the holiday crusade.

"I've seen people broke give me five bucks," Rey said. "A 5-year-old brought quarters."

Congratulations to W4 Country as they met their goals of 16,000 toys and $16,000 in monetary gifts.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Hundreds of toys that were dropped off by listeners for Toys for Tots.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Toys...Toys...Toys!

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The W4 Country Holiday Crusade for Kids at the Oak Valley Centre.

 

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