SALEM - The Brightside Project has announced that its "Bright Christmas" toy drive is now underway.

The organization is calling on the community to donate toys to bring hope and holiday cheer to children in need this season.

This year, more than 25 local businesses, churches and organizations have partnered with The Brightside Project as official toy collection sites.

The community is encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to any of the following dropoff sites listed below.

SALEM LOCATIONS:

- The Brightside Project

- Fresh Mark

- Sherwin-Williams Paint Store

- Summit Federal Credit Union

- First Friends Church

- First Christian Church

- Jessie's Closet Boutique 

- Hunt Valve Co.

- Salem CDJR

- Oasis Indoor Golf & Sports Bar

- Grizzly Bean Coffee House

- Stratton Chevrolet

- Starbucks

OTHER LOCATIONS:

- Pennex in Leetonia

- Dollar General on Route 172 in Lisbon

- Farmers Bank (Columbiana, Damascus, Lisbon, East Liverpool, Calcutta and Salem locations)

- Consumers Bank (Lisbon, Calcutta and Salem Locations)

You can also look at The Brightside Project's Amazon wishlist here and purchase items from there.

The Brightside Project will then host its "Bright Christmas" event on Saturday, December 13, where children ages three and up from Columbiana County and rural Mahoning County can show up and each receive a toy.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be on site to visit the children.