WHEELING, W.Va. – Operation Toy Lift will return for its 10th year on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The effort, led by the Wheeling Police Department and Belmont County Sheriff’s Office with the support of dozens of agencies, aims to bring hope to children in the Ohio Valley during the holiday season.
The community is invited to purchase new toys and drop them off at the parking lot near Academy Sports at the Ohio Valley Mall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 5. Local celebrities will be taking turns in an AEP bucket truck to draw attention to the annual event, while volunteers on the ground will be working to accept donations and fill trucks up with toys.
Operation Toy Lift supports children and teens in Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, and Belmont Counties through United Way agencies and other pre-determined nonprofit agencies who are invited to ‘shop’ to supplement other holiday programs for their clients. Over the last ten years Operation Toy Lift has brought smiles to thousands of children and teens on Christmas morning.
Monetary donations are also accepted and can be made at this link. Staff from the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley will use monetary donations to supplement the toys and gifts collected to make sure each child has an item from their wishlist this holiday season.
