The WGN Morning News Drive-Thru Toy Drive is celebrating its 8th year and bringing on the star power! This year, the WGN Drive-Thru Toy Drive is partnering with the Jennifer Hudson Foundation in Honor of Julian King to benefit the Abraham Lincoln Centre.   Additionally, this year’s event will hold 3 satellite toy drives over the weeks preceding the final toy drive.  The final day of the toy drive will be at the WGN-TV studios on December 21st from 5 am-9am.  This four-hour event will feature carolers, a visit from Santa, holiday fun, $100 Feldco giftcards (while supplies last), and an appearance and interview with Jennifer Hudson.

Preceding this event, viewers will be invited to drop off new unwrapped toys or monetary donations to multiple locations throughout the Chicagoland area.  Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier will offer free Child’s Admission with a toy donation on the day of the drop off (restrictions apply).  ABT Electronics in Glenview will give $10 giftcards to each household that donates (restrictions apply).  Hollywood Boulevard in Woodridge, IL will give a free Movie Pass good for two people valid Sunday-Thursday at either Hollywood location with each donation (restrictions apply).  Feldco Windows, Siding and Doors will be giving away $100 Feldco giftcards while supplies last for each donation made to one of their locations (4feldco.com).  Life Storage, the official storage and transportation sponsor of WGN’s Toy Drive 2010, will gather, store, and deliver the toys to their final destination – the children of the Abraham Lincoln Centre.

The Jennifer Hudson Foundation in Honor of Julian King is named in honor of the singer-actress’ late nephew Julian King.  The foundation seeks to help families who have lost relatives to a violent crime, with basic needs including food, clothing and shelter as well as grief counseling.  

The Abraham Lincoln Centre (ALC) was founded as a settlement house in 1905 and quickly became home to a variety of social, intellectual and cultural activities.  The ALC now has thirty programs at thirty sites on Chicago’s south side.