LEOs collect toys, donations for local children
#Local first responders and the Frontier Community Action Agency (FCAA) are teaming up this year for the seventh annual Christmas Cops program— a toy drive that helps make sure that many children who might have otherwise gone without this Christmas, receive a special gift.
#New, unwrapped toys—for children of any age— should be brought to WalMart on Dec. 3, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., where members from public safety agencies in Humboldt County will be waiting to help with donations.
#Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Captain, Sean Wilkin, said in an email that “people in our community are beyond generous with their donations and gifts they give to help the kids who benefit from this program.”
#Christmas can be a stressful time for many families because of the extra expenses that go along with celebrating holidays, but the program is designed to help families and support children in the community.
# The FCAA works year round to connect people in need with different resources. Their coinciding Christmas program, Project Santa, helps to connect different entities together to reach as many families as possible.
#“Many of these children would go without during Christmas if it wasn’t for the work and generosity of everyone involved,” added Wilkin.
#Agencies such as the HCSO, the Winnemucca Police Department, the Volunteer Fire Department, Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services, the FCAA, and many other unsung heroes are working to help the families in the community during the holiday season.
#“This is a program I am very proud of here in Humboldt County. It is great to see…public safety agencies come together and work as a team to help kids who need it,” said Wilkin.
#Through the programs, hundreds of presents are donated and distributed each year. From baby dolls to trucks and skateboards, the types of presents vary greatly and go to children of different ages. Choosing to make a donation this holiday season can help the programs serve many more children.
#“This program has continued to grow, and we are helping more and more children every year. I would like to thank everyone involved in the planning and coordination of this event, as well as WalMart for hosting us every year,” said Wilkin.
#WalMart provides a convenient location for the event so those that are already shopping can easily make a donation. This, combined with willingness to donate is a great factor in the success of the toy drive.
#“This is something we couldn’t do without the support of our community,” said Wilkin.