Minnesota family collecting toys for Mayo Clinic

Toys at Mayo Clinic are given to the kids instead of shared because of COVID-19 and now they're in need of more donations.

Same as religious new this morning on daybreak.

For most of us right now... christmas is probably the last thing on our minds.

But one local family is on a mission to collect as many toys as possible for children at mayo clinic.

Kimt news 3's madelyne watkins joins us in the studio to tell us why they're starting this early and how you can help out.

Madelyne./// brooke.

For ten years now... linsey rippy and her family has been collecting toys for children staying at mayo clinic over the holidays.

Well last week... they caught wind of the toy closet looking a little emptier nowadays.

This is what the toy closet on the 5th floor normally looks like... full of toys for kids to play with.

Now with covid?

"*19... the toys are givn to the kids instead of being returned back to the closet.

Rippy knows first hand the importance of having toys available.

She has two daughters who each received a heart transplant at mayo clinic.

Rippy knows this year has been tough on everyone... but she doesn't want the little ones in the hospital to feel "and the other part of it too is the mental health part.

Because these kids are stuck in the hospital and especially when the holiday season comes up that's even worse.

Now with covid, they can't have visitors.

So it's really important to keep them occupied rippy tells me they normally get to bring all the gifts to mayo clinic and give them to the kids... but she's thinking that unfortunately won't get to happen this year.

They're not letting that thank you madelyne.

If you would like to donate any toys... the rippy family has an amazon wish list where you can purchase an item and it gets sent directly to them.

We have a link on our website kimt dot com if you