Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Community Benefit Committee are partnering again this year to provide Christmas gifts to more than 200 children in Lowndes County.
Lt. Rhonda Sanders with LCSO said the annual fundraiser is a way for the department to connect with the community.
“We are here to let the community know that we are a support system to better and to help our community,” Sanders said.
This year the toy drive consists of three parts intended to brighten the holiday season for children in the community.
In a collaboration with Lowndes County Child Protective Services, foster children and their foster families are invited to celebrate the holiday at a Christmas party this weekend. Toys donated to the drive will be set up at the party, and foster children can choose their own gifts.
The drive also includes an opportunity for students from local schools to shop with the sheriff. Counselors from all Lowndes County and city schools are invited to recommend K-12 students to participate in a shopping trip with a local law enforcement officer.
There will also be a Christmas party for Lowndes County Adult Detention Center trustees and their children.
“The trustees help us out immensely with many of our community projects,” said Julie Parker with the Community Benefit Committee. “Their service to our projects is just invaluable.”
This is the third year for the party for trustees, and they will wrap their chosen gifts for their children. The party is a thank you to the trustees for their work in the community and an opportunity for their children to spend time with their incarcerated parents, Parker said.
“It is probably one of the most meaningful nights I ever experience during the holiday season,” Parker said. “The Christmas gifts are kind of just the secondary thing for the Christmas party because it’s really all about the opportunity to get a hug and spend those couple hours with their fathers.”
Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said the annual drive is really about providing a good holiday experience for all children in the community.
“We want to make sure that they have a good Christmas,” Hawkins said. “That’s what this is all about, you know, trying to bring joy to kids for Christmas this year.”
Toy donations will be accepted through Dec. 19. Donation boxes for the toys are located at any BankFirst location in Columbus, WR Community Services at 1526 Gardner Boulevard and Core Fitness 24/7 at 2414 Highway 45 North.
Monetary donations can also be made through Cash App and PayPal with more information on the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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