The Columbus Police Department is asking for donations to help make Christmas special for local children.
The department’s annual toy drive is asking for new, unwrapped toys for children 3 to 12 years old.
Officer Rhonda Sanders said the department hopes to provide toys for more than 400 Columbus families. Six-hundred children received toys through the drive last year. The majority of families are identified by police officers, Sanders said.
“We go on a call, go inside a home with children and see a need there,” she said. “This is one more way we can serve.”
Sanders encouraged people to give, saying, “Close your eyes and imagine being 6 years old. Imagine not getting anything Christmas morning. Now remember when you got your first bike from your parents. We want to be able to give that to a child.”
Toys can be dropped off in the main lobby of the Columbus Police Department or local Cadence Bank locations. Monetary donations can be made at local Cadence Bank locations and BankFirst locations.
The toys will be handed out to families Dec. 22.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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