By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

Wintertime events with PROUD kicks off this weekend with the Jolly Toy Trolley.

This year’s theme for the season’s event is “Elfin’ Around,” and Interim Director Jessi Finkenbinder gives an outline on the plans for the weekend.

“This event is mainly a retail event. Most of our downtown stores offer a lot of promotion. It’s kind of a kick off to Christmas season for their stores. We will have the trolley parked on Madison Street on that Friday and Saturday and we will be collecting toys for the Salvation Army and we will donate all those on Saturday. Last year was a really good turnout for the first year doing the toy drive, so we’re really hoping we can do a little bit  better this year, of course,” Finkenbinder said.

With any questions, call the PROUD office at 815-326-2354.