Two police departments in Cape May County have made it a tradition to give toys to less fortunate children in the community during the holiday season.
The Middle Township Police Department has kicked off its yearly Christmas Toy Drive, while the Cape May Police Department has begun its annual Sgt. William Alvarez Toy Drive.
Middle Township
Officer Alyssa Jones, a school resource officer at Middle Township Elementary Schools 1 and 2, said the toy drive has gone on much longer than she has been a police officer.
“It’s been over 20 years,” she said.
Jones said the tradition began many years ago when a squad of officers who were working Christmas Eve noticed a family that didn’t even have a Christmas tree, let alone presents to go under it. The officers all chipped in and got the family a tree and bought presents for the children.
From that single act of good will grew an annual program that now collects toys and delivers them to approximately 100 families, including about 300 children.
Jones said the department collects donations throughout the year for the toy drive, both in the form of money and new, unwrapped toys. Before the holiday arrives the department accepts applications from families, and at some point – about this time of the year – the department schedules one or two “big shopping nights,” Jones said. Officers and their families turn out for a night or two of shopping, and a couple of days before Christmas they hold a delivery day.
“We drive around the township with the local fire departments, kind of like a parade, and deliver the toys,” Jones said.
She said the Rio Grande, Goshen Green Creek and Cape May Court House fire companies take part in the delivery, and that there is an appearance by The Grinch.
Jones said the deliveries are based on applications from Middle Township residents. She said there are still a few applications trickling in, but she is sure there are applications from more than 100 families. The department expects to have gifts for almost 300 children ages infant to 14 years.
She said there is a section on the application where the parent gives the department suggestions for gifts, such as Legos or craft items, or perhaps more specific items.
“Usually, we ask for a general idea of what the child is interested in,” Jones said.
Cape May
Police Chief Dekon Fashaw said the department has had a Christmas toy drive for as long as he can remember. Sgt. William Alvarez started the drive as a way to help underprivileged children and ran it every year. After Alvarez died unexpectedly, the drive was named for him and continues as the Sgt. William Alvarez Toy Drive.
Fashaw said the department puts out boards that go up in churches, at the Wawa, in City Hall, and so on that have tags marked with a child’s age and whether they are a boy or a girl. Members of the public are asked to take a tag, buy an appropriate gift, and then drop off the new, unwrapped gift at drop-off locations in the city. After all the toys are collected the department holds a “huge wrapping party,” Fashaw said, which this year will be on Dec. 17.
“We support a lot of families,” he added.
According to the chief, it’s his assistant, Dorann Heminway, who is really in charge of the program and who coordinates help by all the office staff and police officers. Fashaw said it is easy to make it a team effort, as all of the staff get in the Christmas spirit and don’t have to be begged to join in.
“Their mood is ‘Jolly,’ and they are thankful to be able to help people,” he said.
Jones said, likewise, that the Middle officers have fun with the annual event.
“On delivery day it’s fun to get to spread the Christmas cheer around town so that kids get the meaningful holiday gifts they asked for,” she said.
She said the community has also gotten more into the spirit, as the toy drive has grown tremendously over the years. She said the department will take donations of new, unwrapped toys at its Cape May Court House location on Mechanic Street, or at the Rio Grande police substation near the Cape Square Theater. She said some businesses also have drop boxes.
Fashaw said that, in addition to the toy drive, the City of Cape May and the Cape May Police Department will be hosting the Captain Nick Fedoroff Community Christmas Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 14, from noon to 3 p.m. It is a free family event providing pictures with Santa, bouncy houses, photo booth, face painting, snacks and games.
For additional information on the Cape May toy drive or to donate, call 609-884-9539. Anyone in need should call the same number and leave a message if not answered directly.
For the Middle toy drive, call the police non-emergency number, 609-465-8700, or email alyssajones@middletownship.com.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
