KY tornado victims need Christmas gifts. Here’s how to donate.

The holiday season is often a time of joy and celebration. But recent tornadoes that destroyed homes and businesses, killing at least 75, put many Kentucky families in crisis just two weeks before Christmas.

Now, Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear is hosting a toy drive in western Kentucky to collect items for children affected by the storms.

“With Christmas just around the corner, we want to help parents and guardians in Western Kentucky, despite this devastation, make the holidays special for their children,” she told a conference. press on Monday.

Live updates: Kentucky tornado death toll rises to 74, with more than 100 still missing

State officials are asking for toys, games, books and technology that are new, unboxed and in their original packaging.

They also ask for $25 Mastercard and Visa gift cards.

No clothing is required at this time.

In an interview Tuesday, Beshear said she didn’t know how many families needed gifts. But “if we look at how many communities have been affected, I think that number is quite high.”

Beshear said donations started pouring in on the first day of the campaign, including from “a major toy company.”

“I have no words to tell you how overwhelmed I am by the outpouring of support not just from friends and family in Kentucky,” she said. “People from across the Commonwealth, from across the country have answered that call.”

Speaking alongside President Joe Biden at a press conference on Wednesday, Beshear said he has already collected more than 20,000 toys.

Items can be dropped off until Saturday at the following locations:

Louisville

Broadbent Arena

KFEC Gate 4 Drive, Louisville, KY 40209

Deposits accepted from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday

St. Matthews Police Department

3940 Grandview Ave, St. Matthews, KY 40207

Deposits accepted 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday

How to help Kentucky tornado victims: Donate to relief funds, supplies and blood drives

Lexington

Consolidated Baptist Church

1625 Russell Cave Road

Deposits accepted 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office

150 N. Limestone #265, Lexington, KY 40507

Deposits accepted 24 hours a day from Tuesday to Saturday

by Pieratt

110 Mt. Tabor Road, Lexington, KY 40517

125 E. Reynolds Road, Suite 150, Lexington, KY 40517

Deposits accepted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Bowling green

WKU Research and Development Center

2413 Nashville Road, Bowling Green, KY 42104

Deposits accepted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Saturday

Independence

Kenton County Police Department

11777 Madison Pike, Independence, KY 41051

Deposits accepted 24 hours a day from Tuesday to Saturday

Paducach

Paducah Police Department

1400 Broadway, Paducah, KY 42003

Deposits accepted 24 hours a day from Tuesday to Saturday

Covington

Kenton County Government Center

1840 Simon Kenton Road, Covington, KY 41011

Deposits accepted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday

After: What was the strength and size of Kentucky’s main tornado? Here are the first estimates.

richmond

by Pieratt

2031 Lantern Ridge Drive, Richmond, KY 40475

Deposits accepted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday and from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday

Kentucky State Police Stations

Deposits accepted 24 hours a day from Tuesday to Saturday

• 954 Cameron Ponder Drive, Elizabethtown
• 160 Citation Alley, Campbellsburg
• 4265 US 25, dry ridge
• 699 East Bypass, Richmond
• 1595 Flemingsburg Road, Morehead
• 3499 N. Mayo Trail, Pikeville
• 3319 S. US 421, Harlan
• 11 State Police Road, London
• 1250 Louisville Road, Frankfurt
• 10 Justice Drive, Danger
• 5975 State Route 60, Ashland
• 1118 Jamestown Street, Colombia
• 8415 US 41S, Henderson

Mail

Mail donations to KY Venues, ATTN: Western Kentucky Toy Drive, 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209.

Find more information at governor.ky.gov/toydrive.

Other Christmas campaigns

Greenfield Christmas Tree Farm

The Princeton, Kentucky-based company collects donations for families in Princeton and Dawson Springs.

Gifts can be dropped off at the Family Life Center Southside Baptist Church, 205 Nichols St.

Anyone wishing to help can call 270-625-3082.

Contact journalist Bailey Loosemore at [email protected], 502-582-4646 or on Twitter @bloosemore.