TWO RIVERS, Wis. — Elijah Vue is being honored this holiday season with a new initiative: Operation Elijah. 

What You Need To Know

  • Elijah Vue is being honored this holiday season with a new initiative: Operation Elijah

  • Organizers are asking unwrapped toys or donations be sent to the Two Rivers Police Department. Online donations can be made, here

  • Andrew Raatz, Two Rivers police captain, said toys and donations will go to area nonprofits and the Shop with a Cop program

  • Gifts and donations can be delivered for the toy drive to the Two Rivers Police Department through Dec. 15

Vue went missing from Two Rivers in February. After months of searching, the 3-year-old’s skeletal remains were found in September.

His short life is being honored this Christmas through a toy drive, Operation Elijah, named in his honor. His family and the wider community hope to bring cheer to other children this holiday season.

This is Amber Runge’s first Christmas without Vue, her nephew. 

“He’s a very precious little boy. He’s going to be very missed,” Runge said.

Runge said his loss is almost unbearable.

“Wishing that circumstance was very different and that we would all be together as a family celebrating the holidays. I literally look outside my back window where we did an Easter egg hunt with them both, and it is heartbreaking,” Runge said.

Runge said she hopes this toy drive will bring joy to Two Rivers while honoring her nephew.

“It brings something beautiful to the community from such a tragedy, and since he can’t be here to open presents, it will give a lot of children the opportunity to have a very happy holiday, and it will bring smiles to children’s faces,” Runge said.

Organizers are asking unwrapped toys or donations be sent to the Two Rivers Police Department. Online donations can be made, here. Andrew Raatz, Two Rivers police captain, said toys and donations will go to area nonprofits and the Shop with a Cop program. 

Raatz said it’s an overwhelming feeling seeing how Vue continues to impact the city.

“This toy drive is a great example of how our community has really just gone above and beyond what we could ever expect. To take this tragedy and have something extremely positive come from it just means a lot. And the fact that all these toys and donations will be used locally is even more awesome,” Raatz said. 

Even though Vue is not here to open gifts, his aunt said he’d have a big smile knowing he’s making other Christmases brighter.

“I do think he would be happy for other children. He would just be proud of the community and how they all came together to do something positive in a situation like this,” Runge said.

Gifts and donations can be delivered for the toy drive to the Two Rivers Police Department through Dec. 15.