Griz for Kids once again looks to community for toys

Even though it comes long before Thanksgiving, the Nov. 4 Grizzly football game against Cal Poly isn’t too soon to get in the holiday spirit.

The second annual Griz for Kids toy drive will be in full swing, with boxes placed at each entrance to Washington-Grizzly Stadium for fans to drop off a new, unwrapped toy for an area youth in need.

The Montana Grizzlies and UM, Max Media and Missoula Federal Credit Union, in conjunction with the 102.5 Mountain FM’s Mountain of Giving Toy Drive, are collecting toys that will be distributed to Missoula children in need during the holiday season.

“We wanted to keep it going (a second year) as a football team and as a whole athletic department,” said organizer and Grizzly football player Ryan Wells. “It’s a great way for us to give back to the community, and we have a venue in Washington-Grizzly Stadium that
attracts 23,000 people.”

For people who are feeling generous but aren’t football fans, toys can be dropped off at any Missoula Federal Credit Union location.

For those at the Nov. 4 game, signs and people in “Griz for Kids” T-shirts will point the way to drop boxes before kickoff.

Last year, big-hearted Griz fans donated thousands of toys, and this year Wells wants the program to collect even more.

Donations go to help Mountain Home Montana, Head Start, Early Head Start, Missoula Indian Center, Youth Homes Inc., Watson Children’s Shelter, A.W.A.R.E. Inc., YWCA and WORD.

For more information visit http://www.moclub.com/grizforkids.