City’s sanitation crews hosting toy/food drive Monday

Lawrence residents have one more chance to set food and toys out at their curbs as part of a holiday charity drive being run by the city’s sanitation crews.

Crews on the city’s trash trucks will be collecting all nonperishable food items and new toys that are left at the curb on Monday morning. The effort is part of food/toy drive that will benefit the Lawrence-based food pantry Just Food, and the Blue Santa Program, which provides holiday gifts to local families in need.

Residents should set out their toys or food at the same time they normally would set out their yard waste items on Monday. This is the second year for the food drive run by sanitation workers. Last year, the department collected 381 toys and about 2,200 pounds of food.

A spokesman for the effort said they hope to improve upon those totals this year, but said participation during last Monday’s collection effort was sparse.