Kentucky MBB, WBB to Help with Western Kentucky Toy Drive

The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s basketball programs will be collecting toys and gift cards at its upcoming home games to donate to the Western Kentucky Toy Drive initiated by Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear. 

New, unwrapped toys in original packaging or $25 VISA or Mastercard gift cards will be collected and donated to families in Western Kentucky in need following the tragic tornadoes last week. The UK Police Department is working with UK Athletics on collection and distribution of the donated items.

The UK women’s basketball program will accept donations at Sunday’s 2 p.m. ET game vs. USC Upstate and offer free admission to those who donate one of the requested items. Donations will be accepted at the Lexington Avenue entrance.  

The UK men’s basketball program will accept donations at all entrances of Rupp Arena during its game Wednesday, Dec. 22 against UofL at 6 p.m. Free admission with a donation cannot be offered at the men’s basketball game due to limited availability.     

The toy donation is in conjunction with the “Kentucky United for Tornado Relief” telethon that UK Athletics, WLEX-TV and JMI Sports hosted earlier this week, raising more than $3 million. All proceeds are going directly to the American Red Cross to benefit Western Kentucky victims.

Donations to Kentucky United can continue to be made in these ways:

• redcross.org/donate/cm/wlextv-pub.html/ (site will be active through Dec. 19)
• Mail a check to: American Red Cross, Attn: Kentucky Tornadoes, 1450 Newtown Pike, Lexington, KY 40511
• Use this QR code:

Press release via UK Athletics