(01/06/2025) The holidays for thousands of Anoka County families and students were a little brighter following the annual Toys for Joy distribution held Dec. 19 and 20 at the Anoka Armory.  A 38-year tradition, Toys for Joy is made possible through a massive volunteer effort and donations from area businesses, faith communities, organizations and individuals joining in a common cause to support families and youth during a time of need. 

Student support: Over 100 students from Anoka Middle School for the Arts, Northdale Middle School and Roosevelt Middle School played a key role in organizing 13,000 items plus food for the distribution. As part of the distribution, families are matched with age appropriate toys and gifts along with a holiday turkey dinner complete with potatoes, vegetables, bread and more. 

Other student supports include:

• Anoka Hockey support of produce bagging and distribution. 

• McKinley Elementary fundraiser netting over $3,000.

• Fundraising and toy drives across numerous district schools. 

Legacy of giving: Established in 1986, the “Christmas Committee” of Anoka started collecting and distributing toys to families. The spirit lives on today with countless volunteer hours, donations and organizations providing support. The National Guard donates the space needed to coordinate the distribution and no overhead costs to this program as it operates as a part of the St. Paul Area Association of REALTORS® with services volunteered and materials either donated or loaned to the organization.

More information: View photos from the event and visit the Toys for Joy website with links to social media channels.