The Connecticut Lottery Corporation Kicks-off 8th Annual “Give a Child a Toy, Not a Ticket” Holiday Toy Drive Benefitting Connecticut Children’s

Rocky Hill, CT/ November 18, 2021 – Today, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation (CLC) kicks-off its 8th Annual “Give a Child a Toy, Not a Ticket” Holiday Toy Drive to collect new toys to benefit Connecticut Children’s, while also spreading the Responsible Gambling message that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for children. For this initiative, the Connecticut Lottery is again partnering with iHeartRadio and Connecticut Children’s.

The public may drop off new toy donations at designated sites throughout the state from today, November 18, through Tuesday, December 21 – including at 14 different U-Haul locations, six Geissler’s Supermarkets, and all 10 Sportech retail locations. In addition, for the first time ever, Stop & Shop has made the incredible commitment to participate in all 89 of its Connecticut stores, with donation bins available beginning December 1.

“Promoting responsible gambling is a constant priority for the Connecticut Lottery, and it’s important to us that we drive home the message that lottery tickets are entertainment for adults-only, particularly at this time of year,” said Greg Smith, President & CEO, CLC. “It’s extra special for us to be able to do that while also helping Connecticut Children’s in their goal of providing comfort and enjoyment to patients who are in the hospital during the holidays, and other times throughout the year.”

“When CLC approached us with this idea, we jumped at the chance to help drive donations for our partner Connecticut Children's to deliver some joy to kids who are hospitalized during this time of year - while also underscoring an important message around appropriate gifting,” said Rudy DiPietro, Vice President of Merchandising Planning and Execution at Stop & Shop. “We encourage our customers to stop by their local Stop & Shop throughout the month of December to support a good cause this holiday season.”

Connecticut Children’s uses toys and games as a distraction from pain before shots, tests and surgeries. Every child who has a procedure, or celebrates a birthday or special event also receives a toy, and the hospital uses toys and games in multiple playrooms throughout its facilities. In total, the yearly need for donated toys is great—upwards of 80,000—ranging from a simple deck of cards or matchbox car, to the more substantial, tablets and video games. To view a wish list of Connecticut Children’s “Top Needed Toys” visit connecticutchildrens.org/toys.

Since 2008, the CLC has partnered with the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors at McGill University and the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) during the holidays to promote the message that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for children.

If you or someone you know is affected by a gambling problem, please call the CT Council on Problem Gambling’s Helpline at 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/get-help for
more information.

Toy Drop-Off Locations:


Visit connecticutchildrens.org/toys to view a wish list of Connecticut Children’s “Top Needed Toys.” New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off from Nov. 18 - Dec. 21 at the locations listed below and all Stop & Shop stores starting Dec. 1.

• Connecticut Lottery Headquarters, 777 Brook St, Rocky Hill
• Stop & Shop – (Starting Dec. 1)
  o All 89 locations across Connecticut
• Geissler’s Supermarket
  o 40 Tunxis Ave, Bloomfield
  o 100 Bridge St, East Windsor
  o 9J Bank St, Granby
  o 95 South Rd, Somers
  o 965 Sullivan Ave, South Windsor
  o 318 Broad St, Windsor
• Sportech
  o Bobby V’s, 268 Atlantic St, Stamford
  o Bobby V’s, 11 Schoephoester Rd, Windsor Locks
  o Sports Haven, 600 Long Wharf Dr, New Haven
  o Winners, 121 Brainard Rd, Hartford
  o Winners, 103 Tolland Tpke, Manchester
  o Winners, 89 Roses Mill Rd, Milford
  o Winners, 160 East Main St, New Britain
  o Winners, 24 Burnell Blvd, Norwalk
  o Winners, 141 Water St, Torrington
  o Winners, 155 Thomaston Ave, Waterbury
• U-Haul
  o 29 Route 66 East, Columbia
  o 40A Brainard Rd, Hartford
  o 755 Capitol Ave, Hartford
  o 3197 Main St, Hartford
  o 53-71 Spencer St, Manchester
  o 432 Oakland St, Manchester
  o 284 E. Main St, Meriden
  o 311 W. Main St, Meriden
  o 1200 Newfield St, Middletown
  o 799 New Haven Rd, Naugatuck
  o 10B New Britain Ave, Plainville
  o 169 Meriden Rd, Waterbury
  o 560 Bank St, Waterbury
  o 164 South St, West Hartford
• Garg Consulting, 2096A Silas Deane Hwy, Rocky Hill
• Hartford Electric Supply Co. (HESCO), 30 Inwood Rd, Rocky Hill
• Scientific Games, 301 Hammer Mill Rd, Rocky Hill
• The Salad Bar, 856 Cromwell Ave, Rocky Hill
• Zen's Toyland (formerly The Wooden Toy), 1275 Silas Deane Hwy, Wethersfield
• Zen's Toyland, 803 Williams St, Longmeadow, MA