Ellen DeGeneres Plans Toys for Tots Event in Ann Arbor

Dozens of fans of daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres are gathered at an Ann Arbor Walgreens this afternoon, hoping for a chance to be included in a taping of her show.

DeGeneres has been teasing followers of her show's Twitter account about a “big day in Ann Arbor” throughout the day.

Around 3 p.m. Thursday DeGeneres wrote: "Ann Arbor! You can be on my show, help a kid in need, & win big. @Walgreens. 7:30pm. It’s a win win win. Wear your favorite holiday outfit."

Managers at the Walgreens, located at 2355 Jackson Ave., acknowledged that DeGeneres is helping raise attention for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign, but could not comment on tonight’s events, promising fans of the Ellen DeGeneres Show a “big surprise.”

Andrea Acosta of Katie, Texas, a University of Michigan student, showed up to the store after following the show’s feed on Twitter.

“Ellen is awesome,” she said. “I think what she’s doing for Toys for Tots is great because it draws a lot of attention to the effort and it shows that she really does care.”

Fellow student Alex Lai of Chicago, Ill., said she was ecstatic to see DeGeneres' tweets.

“I love her,” she said. “I will be sticking around all day to see what’s going to happen.”

Olivia Stephens of Canton heard about the event through a friend.

“We watch all of Ellen’s videos online,” Stephens said. “She’s so funny and generous. We’re excited that she is bringing the show to Michigan.”

Producers of the Ellen DeGeneres Show would not comment on tonight’s event but recommended fans bring a new unwrapped toy to Walgreens around 7:30 p.m.

The show, which airs at 10 a.m. weekdays on WDIV (channel 4 in Detroit), did not mention the Ann Arbor event on today's episode.