Panera Bread Hosting State-wide Toy Drive
Today kicks off a 3-week toy drive at 41 Indiana Panera Bread restaurants, marking an expansion in the program that helped to collect toys at select restaurants last year. This year, the collection will benefit Salvation Army Christmas assistance programs in counties across the state of Indiana. Collection boxes will be out November 13 to December 6 at each participating Panera Bread. New, unwrapped toys for infants through teens can be dropped off during each location's regular business hours.
Thousands of local families turn to The Salvation Army during the holidays to help put toys under the tree and Christmas dinner on the table. Families hit hard by inflation, job loss, and financial difficulties often face the difficult choice between paying rent or a utility bill and providing Christmas gifts and a festive family meal for their children. Salvation Army programs, like Angel Tree and Toy Shop, help to relieve the extra financial burden of the holidays and ensure that families in need can still experience the joys of the season.
"We're so grateful to Panera Bread for growing this program in 2024," said Major Marc Johnson, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army Indiana Division. "With thousands of Hoosier families in need of help this Christmas, a toy drive like this can make a huge impact on our ability to meet the need in each community where we serve. This is a season of joy, and each year The Salvation Army strives to bring that joy to as many of our neighbors in need as we can."
Panera Bread began as St. Louis Bread Company in 1987 and is now operating in 48 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada. This toy drive is just one of many ways that the company gives back to communities through seasonal and year-round philanthropic efforts.
Participating Panera Bread locations:
Anderson: 4730 S. Scatterfield Road
Bloomington: 2748 E. 3rd Street
Carmel: 2001 Greyhound Pass #4E
Carmel: 1346 S. Rangeline Road
Clarksville: 1040 Veterans Parkway
Columbus: 3056 Columbus Center
Evansville: 220 N. Burkhardt Road
Evansville: 5201 Pearl Drive
Fishers: 8510 E. 96th Street #A
Fort Wayne: 4110 W. Jefferson Boulevard
Fort Wayne: 526 E. Coliseum Boulevard
Fort Wayne: 2104 E. DuPont Road
Franklin: 2156 N. Morton Street
Goshen: 4026 Elkhart Road
Greenfield: 2173 N. State Street
Greenwood: 789 U.S. Highway 31 North
Indianapolis: 3824 E. 82nd Street
Indianapolis: 9235 N. Michigan Road
Indianapolis: 9145 E. 56th Street
Indianapolis: 5335 E. Southport Road #100
Indianapolis: 110 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis: 55 S. Raceway Road #100
Indianapolis: 6055 N. Keystone Avenue
Indianapolis: 6050 W. 86th Street
Lafayette: 4339 South Street
Merrillville: 303 E. 81st Avenue
Mishawaka: 4310 N. Main Street
Muncie: 900 E. McGalliard Road
Munster: 8131 Calumet Avenue
New Albany: 2135 State Street
Noblesville: 17177 Mercantile Boulevard
Noblesville: 12873 Campus Parkway #A
Plainfield: 320 Perry Road
Portage: 6010 U.S. Highway 6
Schererville: 144 U.S. Highway 41
South Bend: 1315 E. Ireland Road
Terre Haute: 5653 S. U.S. Highway 41
Valparaiso: 2710 LaPorte Avenue #150
West Lafayette: 328 E. State Street #H
West Lafayette: 3045 Sachem Court South
Whitestown: 6046 Whitestown Parkway
For more information about Panera Bread and to find a location near you, visit PaneraBread.com. To find your local Salvation Army and learn more about Christmas assistance programs in your area, visit SalvationArmyIndiana.org.