Thanks to Plach Automotive in New London, area families received donated toys to brighten their Christmas.

This is the second year that Plach held a toy drive.

This year, the toys were donated to the New London Community Cupboard. Each year, Kim Ebert, who runs the Community Cupboard, assembles a room full of toys that have been donated by the community.

Parents are given the opportunity to “shop” in the special room and select gifts they can wrap and give to their children for Christmas. On average, 55 families with anywhere from one child to eight children benefit from this community program each year.

“I don’t know if a lot of people know that program exists,” said Jaime Radtke of Plach Automotive. “A lot of people know about the Adopt a Family but there are a lot of families that don’t get adopted and there are just a lot of kids that are in need.”

Donated toys filled the back of a pickup truck at Plach. Money was also donated during the toy drive, totaling $1,472. The money was used to purchase more toys.

“It was nice to see the community coming together to support the children that are local, in our community,” Radtke said.