November 20, 2023

Arkansas Lottery Hosting Holiday Toy Drive

Little Rock, ARK.

The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL) is conducting a holiday toy drive to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program while raising awareness that lottery tickets are not suitable gifts for those under the age of 18.

Now through Nov. 29, new and unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the ASL Claim Center, 124 W. Capitol Ave., in Little Rock. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. 

ASL will also host an official drop-off event on Nov. 29 at the ASL Claim Center, where the public can donate toys, enter a drawing for a chance to win a lottery prize pack and play a game to win lottery swag. The first 200 adult participants who donate toys will be gifted a free Arkansas Scholarship Lottery holiday instant ticket. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The holidays can be a trying time for families in need. With these toy donations, we hope to bring joy to more children this holiday season,” said ASL Executive Director Eric Hagler. 

All collected toys will be donated to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to distribute to needy families in Central Arkansas.

The holiday toy drive is also part of ASL’s participation in an annual holiday season campaign organized by the National Council on Problem Gambling. The campaign’s mission is to discourage giving lottery tickets as gifts to children. 

“We want to encourage giving gifts that are appropriate for children and young teens and remind people that lottery tickets should not end up in the hands of minors,” added Hagler.

About the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery
More than 92 cents of every dollar of ASL revenue goes to prizes, scholarships, retailer commissions, and other expenses in Arkansas. Since 2009, the lottery has raised more than $1.3 billion in proceeds for scholarships. More than 720,000 college scholarships have been awarded to Arkansans. The lottery has awarded more than $4.7 billion in prizes to players, about $392 million in retailer commissions, and provided more than $172 million in state and federal tax revenue.

Follow the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Visit MyArkansasLottery.com for more information on scholarships, winners, games, odds, promotions – and to join The Club for free. To hear winning numbers, call the Winning Numbers Hotline at 501-682-IWON (4966). To get help with problem gambling, contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700. 

About the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program
The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.