SIDNEY, NE — A pair of annual holiday events are underway to help those in need this Christmas season. 

Toys for Tots in the southern Nebraska is collecting donations of toys at several locations in the area. Toys that are donated must be new and unwrapped. 

Local volunteers then distribute the toys to kids aged 0-18 that have signed up for the program. This year's distribution date is set for Saturday, Dec. 11, and will be at the Elk's Lodge in Sidney. 

Places where people can donate toys include The Big Boy Studios in Sidney, Dollar General, both Points West Bank locations, Platte Valley Bank, Viaero, Daises and Dragons, the Elk's Lodge, the Cheyenne County Community Center, the Methodist Church, Panhandle Auto Group, Sidney Regional Medical Center, Floyd's Truck Center, Cabela's and Homestead Market in Dalton.

To learn more about Toys for Tots in our area, go to sidney-ne.toysfortots.org.

Also on Dec. 11, the Sidney Police Department will hold its annual Shop with a Cop event. 

For Shop with a Cop, local police officers take kids to local stores to pick out items on their Christmas list. The event is supported through monetary donations. 

Families can still apply to take part in Shop with a Cop. Applications are available at the Sidney Police Station and are due by Wednesday, Dec. 1.