The toy drive will accept new, unwrapped and nonviolent toys for children of all ages and monetary donations now through December 8.

Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA) — a full-time, tuition-free, online public school for grades K-12 — has partnered with alumni to host their Ninth Annual Christmas Toy Drive benefiting Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

“Our Christmas Toy Drive has become a beloved tradition for our staff and students and a great way to foster a passion for giving back to those who can use extra support around the holidays,” said Dr. Kristin Stewart, head of school at OHVA. “We are incredibly proud of our current students and our alumni for carrying on this annual event and helping the children at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have a memorable holiday.”

Now through Friday, December 8, the OHVA Agricultural Society will be accepting new, unwrapped and nonviolent toy donations for children of all ages, ranging from babies to teens. All toys collected will be donated on December 9 to children at Nationwide Children’s Hospital who are unable to be home with their families for the holiday. Examples of acceptable toys include:

• Baby – Rattles, teethers, stacking cups, shapes, plastic links, mirrors, and musical or light up toys.
• Preschool – Crayons and coloring books, molding clay, puzzles, bubbles, books, board games and dolls.
• School Age – Books, games, playing cards, craft sets, ink kits and painting supplies.
• Teens – Drawing and painting supplies, model kits, playing cards, word search and nail polish.

“We started the toy drive with the goal of spreading holiday cheer by providing gifts to children who are in the hospital during the holidays,” said Tyler Slaven, Ohio Virtual Academy alumnus. “It has been terrific to see the toy drive continue to grow over the past eight years and I hope that this year we are able to donate a record number of toys..”

Tyler and his sister Monica Slaven, also an alumna of Ohio Virtual Academy, first started the toy drive in 2015. Since then, they have donated more than 80,000 toys to the hospital through the drive. Today, both Tyler and Monica continue to support the drive working alongside students in OHVA’s Agricultural Society to collect and deliver the toys to the children at the hospital.

All new, unwrapped and nonviolent toy donations can be dropped off at the following locations through December 8:

• Buckeye State Bank – 101 North Main Street, DeGraff, Ohio 43318
• Dave Carothers Custom Auto Sales – 1318 OH-540, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311
• Family Farm and Home – 1710 South Main Street, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311
• Marysville Rural King – 1000 North Main Street, Marysville, Ohio 43040
• Ohio Virtual Academy Office – 1690 Woodlands Dr., Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537
• Provico Farm Supply – 225 South Main Street, Botkins, Ohio 45306
• Sidney Walmart – 2400 West Michigan Street, Sidney, Ohio 45364
• Springfield Rural King – 1476 Upper Valley Pike, Springfield, Ohio 45504
• Walmart – 2281 State Route 68, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311
• Way Public Library – 101 E Indiana Ave., Perrysburg, OH 43551

Gifts can also be shipped to the Ohio Virtual Academy Office in Maumee. Monetary donations will be accepted via PayPal at the following link: bit.ly/3tGgTHr.

For more information about the toy drive, email ohvatoydrive@gmail.com.

About Ohio Virtual Academy

Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA) is an accredited, full-time online public charter school authorized by the Ohio Council of Community Schools (OCCS) that serves students in grades K-12. As part of the Ohio public school system, OHVA is tuition-free and provides families the choice to access the curriculum and tools provided by K12, a Stride Company (NYSE: LRN). Stride offers learners of all ages a more effective way to learn and build skills for their future. For more information about OHVA, visit ohva.k12.com.

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