Thursday, Dec. 5, is the last day to bring your used toys and children’s items to the Home & Family Arts building at Kosciusko County Fairgrounds where the 26th Annual Toy Time is taking place. The event is open to the public. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels.

WARSAW — Thursday, Dec. 5, is the last day to bring your used toys and children’s items to the Home & Family Arts building at Kosciusko County Fairgrounds where the 26th Annual Toy Time event is taking place. The event is open to the public.

Event Organizer Ami Pitt partners with Toys for Tots and American Bikers Aimed Toward Education to raise funds to purchase new toys for the annual Combined Community Services toy giveaway.

To consign or donate your quality, gently-used toys, bring them to the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds anytime between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. through Dec. 5. Volunteers will then price and package the items and put them up for sale.

The public toy sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Dec. 8.

People who donate toys will have the opportunity to shop early. As of mid-afternoon Wednesday, Pitt estimated they had received over 8,000 toys and children’s items.

In regard to purchases made at the toy sale, Pitt said they prefer cash but not $100 dollar bills. They will also accept local checks. Credit cards will not be accepted.

“The Fair Board has generously allowed me to use the building every year for 26 years,” Pitt said. “They’re not renting the building out the 10 days I’m in it, so that’s income they are donating to these kids. It’s very kind of them.”

“They give me the building for Tools for School, too. That’s a one-day event, but I have to have the building for two days to set up. So 12 days a year they’re giving me the building and they’re paying for the electricity,” said Pitt. “That’s a lot of Kosciusko kids the fair is supporting by giving us that building to use for those events.” 

Those who bring in items for consignment will receive 50 percent of any of their items that are sold at the public sale. The other 50 percent will go toward the purchase of new toys to help families who are struggling to buy Christmas gifts this year. Items that don’t sell will be rehomed as Christmas gifts.

There is a gap between the toy sale and the toy giveaway this year. The toy giveaway will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec 17, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 18. 

Contact Ami Pitt at (574) 265-4179 with any questions or check out “It’s Toy Time” on Facebook or Instagram. 

The back room contains bigger items such as chairs, strollers, dollhouses and larger toys.

It was estimated that over 8,000 toys and children’s items had been brought in by Wednesday afternoon.