Range Regional Airport’s “Pack a Plane” Toy Drive is collecting toys for the Salvation Army!
Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Range Regional Airport at 11038 Hwy 37 in Hibbing.
Donations will be accepted through December 10th.
What the toy drives are
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The Salvation Army runs seasonal gift-giving campaigns (often around Christmas) to collect new, unwrapped toys for children in need.
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One major program is Angel Tree (sometimes paired with events like Toy Town), where donors choose a “tag” for a specific child — the tag includes the child’s age and gift-needs — then donate a gift accordingly.
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Another approach: community toy-drive events — e.g. one called 12 Hours of Salvation Toy Drive, where people bring donations to a host location (dealership, community center, etc.), and the drives often result in thousands of toys collected in a single day. The Salvation Army USA
Scale and Impact
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In one recent drive in the greater St. Louis area, Toy Town served tens of thousands of children annually — in 2024, over 8,400 children were served through the program. The Salvation Army USA+1
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Elsewhere, in one local drive several hundred families participated — for example, in one holiday distribution 500+ families and over 1,100 children received gifts. KCRA
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For a “toy-shop” style distribution in Michigan, one drive helped 876 families (3,007 individuals total), including 1,808 children — getting more than 10,000 toys into their hands. The Salvation Army USA
How the Drives Work & What They Provide
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Toys are typically given out via a sign-up or referral process: families register ahead of time, indicate number and ages of children, etc., and then pick up gifts at distribution events. KCRA+2Need Help Paying Bills+2
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For many families, this helps them avoid the tough choice between buying necessities (food, bills) and gifts. One parent described the toy-drive as allowing them “to have their meal and … enjoy watching their children open up their gifts.” KCRA
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In addition to toys, some drives also offer other holiday support: clothes, shoes, even food (e.g. frozen turkeys, canned goods) — helping relieve some economic pressures during the holiday season. KCRA+1
What types of gifts are commonly accepted / needed
According to Angel Tree guidance:
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New, age-appropriate toys for ages 0–12 (infants, toddlers, kids). The Salvation Army USA+1
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Examples by age:
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Infants/toddlers (0–2): learning toys, stuffed animals, simple blocks or board books. The Salvation Army USA
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Preschool (3–5): play-dough, dolls, small vehicles, basic toys, interactive/sensory items. The Salvation Army USA
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Elementary age (6–8): LEGOs or building sets, action figures, cars/trucks, art sets, games. The Salvation Army USA+1
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Older children (9–11): craft kits, journals, science kits, games, board games, age-appropriate toys for preteens. The Salvation Army USA
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Also — the highest need often is for toys or gifts for 9–12 year-olds, plus gift cards for teens, and board games or books (especially if the family is multilingual or prefers non-toy gifts). The Salvation Army USA
❤️ Why It Matters
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For many children, these drives provide the only Christmas-gift opportunities: the toy drives help ensure “every child… wakes up on Christmas morning with a gift” even if their family is struggling. The Salvation Army USA+2The Salvation Army+2
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Beyond gifts: the drives help ease financial burdens on parents/guardians during a time of year that is often very expensive (holidays, winter, utilities, food), letting families provide necessities and also holiday cheer. KCRA+1
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They bring communities together: volunteers, local businesses, donors — all participating to support children and families in need. The collective generosity makes a big difference. The Salvation Army USA+2The Salvation Army+2
