The Salvation Army is hoping MSU students, faculty and staff use the holiday season to help children in need.

Drop-off points for the charity’s Toys for Tots program have been set up across campus. In addition to locations in several residence halls, Toys for Tots bins have been placed in the Administration Building, Linton Hall, the Packaging Building and Agriculture Hall.

Anyone wanting to donate a new, unwrapped toy can do so until Dec. 15. The toys will be distributed to needy families in the Lansing area later next month.

“We’re using it as a way to keep what the holidays are all about,” said Erin Parker, an agriculture graduate student who works in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Office of Academic and Student Affairs.

Instead of gift-giving, the employees in Agriculture Hall decided to use this year’s office party to donate to local charities.

Along with Toys for Tots, they’ll be donating to MSU Safe Place, a campus domestic violence shelter, and the Ingham County Medical Care Facility, 3860 Dobie Road in Okemos, an organization that provides aid to Medicare patients.

“We have a list of names of people and what they need,” said Donna Satterlee, office supervisor for the college’s Academic and Student Affairs. “We’re interested in helping children, their families and the elderly.”