Leelanau Christian Neighbors is preparing its 2026 Holiday Needs Program with Northwest Michigan Toys for Tots, and local donors are being encouraged to remember older children as well as younger ones.

A November 5 announcement reported by 9&10 News gives a November 9–December 16 collection period and identifies pre-teens and teens as a particular need.

For residents deciding how to help, the useful next step is to confirm the current wish list and a convenient drop-off point before making a purchase.

Choose gifts for the intended program

The announcement requests new, unwrapped items and includes backpacks, athletic gear, personal-care gift sets, board games and electronics among the suggested categories.

Gift cards and financial contributions are also accepted, while food and realistic toy weapons are excluded from this gift drive.

Those are holiday-program directions, not a statement that every LCN program accepts the same items.

Keep that distinction in mind if collecting several kinds of donations through a workplace, church or neighborhood group.

Coordinate before collecting

As a practical approach, ask the organizer which age groups and gift categories still need support, then share that specific request with potential donors.

Set a clear collection deadline for your group that leaves time for delivery before the program's cutoff.

Keep gifts unwrapped so they can be checked and matched appropriately, and ask staff how to label anything intended for the Holiday Needs Program.

If you plan to donate an item requiring accessories, ask whether those are useful to include rather than assuming another donor will provide them.

Families should contact LCN early

The reported family-registration deadline is December 14, earlier than the final gift-collection deadline.

Families seeking help should call LCN at 231-994-2271 for the available registration sessions and requirements instead of waiting until donation collection ends.

The organization's website identifies its Lake Leelanau service location as 7322 East Duck Lake Road and provides information about its separate assistance programs.

Contacting the organization directly is the clearest way to learn what information a family needs to bring without guessing at eligibility or documentation rules.

Understand the wider organization

LCN's program overview describes food and baby pantries, housing support, financial assistance, Blessings in a Backpack and Samaritans' Closet.

The nonprofit says it serves Leelanau County residents and welcomes people without discrimination based on religion or other personal characteristics.

Those year-round services provide context for the seasonal effort, but registration for one form of help should not be assumed to enroll a household in every program.

The donation information page separates general giving and program wish lists, which can help donors direct a contribution intentionally.

Offer time as well as gifts

The volunteer portal provides a starting point for people who want to help, with an application process for new volunteers.

Ask LCN about holiday-specific assignments before assuming a regular program's sign-up process covers a seasonal sorting shift.

For a group project, choose one person to confirm delivery and volunteer arrangements, then keep the organizer's current instructions with the collected items.

For anyone sharing the drive with friends, pass along the current program link and contact number rather than an old flyer, especially when a delivery date or recipient age group matters.

Check the final drop-off details before leaving home so a useful gift reaches the intended program on time.