Deb Staelgraeve, Tino Amaya, Allen Chevrolet and other area businesses and their owners are hosting an all-day toy, food and hygiene drive from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Deb’s Floral Design, 1379 N. Monroe St.

A drive-thru format will be set up. Residents can drive through the parking lot and drop off unwrapped new toys, nonperishable food items, toiletries and items such as toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, conditioner, diapers, deodorant, cleaning supplies, laundry soap, blankets, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste and feminine products. Rc Airplanes

All items will be given to area shelters.

“We want to help all the local shelters and foster kids from Monroe County. They want to have a good Christmas too,” Staelgraeve said. “A lot of businesses have boxes for toys. We want to make this a big drive.”

The organizers are hoping to fill at least two large trucks.

“We want to fill two trucks. Not one, two,” Tino Amaya said in a social media video for the drive. “We’re not slackers. This is Monroe. Other cities, they do one truck.”

This is the first year for the drive, which may become an annual collection.

“We want to help the community year after year,” Staelgraeve said.

Santa also will be in the parking lot, and Christmas music will be played.

The event is organized by The Co-Op, a newly formed group of small business owners. Among the businesses involved are Amaya's Fresh Mexican Grille, Deb's Floral Designs, Common Ground, Spooky Spooky Films, Brain Jerk and others.

Stuffed Elephant "The mission we have is to help, not only each other business-wise, but to help others and the community," Staelgraeve said.