First lady Casey DeSantis announces toy drive for Florida kids affected by Hurricane Ian

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - As the Sunshine State continues to recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Florida's first lady is making sure the youngest victims don't get left behind. 

Casey DeSantis, who is spearheading the Florida Disaster Fund, announced on Monday a toy drive for children who lost their belongings when the Category 4 storm devastated the state.

DeSantis said toys will be collected through faith-based and non-profit partners, who will in turn bring the donations to disaster recovery centers.

"We want to do everything we can to make the recovery process easier for Floridians who have already been through so much," she said. "Our hope is that with this toy drive, families visiting the state’s Disaster Recovery Centers will find some sense of comfort. We are extremely thankful for our faith-based institutions and non-profits for their partnership in this effort to brighten children’s days."

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If there are any excess toys above what is needed, the first lady said they would still be put to good use. 

"The holidays are right around the corner, and I'm sure there's a lot of great kids out there who have been through some tough times and would love to see a toy on their doorstep," she said.

According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management's website, all donations must be new and unwrapped. 

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So far, two churches in Charlotte and Lee counties are listed on the state's website, but DeSantis said in her announcement that they would be asking for donations from across the state. Additional toy drop-off sites will be added in the next several days, the state said. So far, toys can be mailed or dropped off in person at the following churches in Charlotte and Lee Counties:

• Murdoch Baptist Church18375 Cochran BlvdPort Charlotte, FL 33948
• Next Level Church12400 Plantation BlvdFort Myers, FL 33966

"Please do not send toys directly to the Disaster Recovery Centers," the state's announcement said.

For more information on the toy drive, visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management's website by clicking here.