MARQUETTE — The Cheer Club is still underway and the need for donations is great.

Two Northern Michigan University groups joined together Saturday night at the NMU Wildcats vs. University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs hockey game for the annual Teddy Bear Toss.

The NMU Athletics department and NMU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee collected stuffed animals that were thrown onto the ice during intermission to be donated to The Mining Journal Cheer Club. “The Cheer Club is an important event for local families. It is also a good opportunity for student athletes and staff to participate and get involved in the community,” NMU Director of Athletics Forrest Karr said.

Cheer Club donations are trickling in at the drop-off locations. Donations needed are for children from newborn to 17 years old, with teenage items sought after most. Some examples of teen donations include gift cards to stores or movie theaters, board games or bikes.

“Board games are a good idea because they create family engagement,” Salvation Army Auxiliary Capt. Marie Lewis explained. “If anyone would like to volunteer to help bag up toys, or help hand them out to families, contact the Salvation Army,” Lewis said. Contacts for the Salvation Army are Marquette, 906-226-2241 and Ishpeming, 906-486-8121.

The Cheer Club, which kicked off Nov. 26, collects unwrapped toys and gifts to be donated to local children and families in need during the holiday season. Gifts are distributed to local families through St. Vincent de Paul and The Salvation Army of Marquette County. Gifts can be dropped off at The Mining Journal office in downtown Marquette; St. Vincent de Paul in Marquette; Range Bank locations in Marquette, Harvey and Negaunee; Salvation Army locations in Ishpeming and Marquette; and Ace Hardware in Gwinn.

For those who would like to donate at The Mining Journal office, a donation box is in the vestibule of the office along West Washington Street. Journal staff members are available to take photos of Cheer Club donors who drop off items at The Mining Journal office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.