SOMERSET — Chief George McNeil and the Somerset Police Department would like to thank the local Home Depot store for its generous donation to the department’s holiday toy drive, and are pleased to invite residents to its ‘Stuff-A-Cruiser’ event this weekend.
Somerset Police Officers Brain Dempsey and Shaun Kelly of the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Unit received a $1,000 donation Tuesday from the local Home Depot store and its manager Bob Lesieur.
The donation was made as part of Home Depot’s Operation Surprise, which typically supports veteran causes. This year, the initiative is also supporting causes of frontline workers.
The donation will be used to buy toys as well as gift cards to grocery stores and other retailers to be given to families.
“We are very grateful to the Home Depot store here in Somerset for their generous donation to the POP team’s toy drive,” Chief McNeil said. “We have already received many donations from our wonderful community members, and this donation will allow the team to help even more families this year.”
‘Stuff-A-Cruiser’ Event
The ‘Stuff-A-Cruiser’ event will take place this Saturday, Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. – noon.
Somerset Police officers will be conducting a drive-thru event. The department will be accepting new, unwrapped toys in the student parking lot of the Somerset Berkley Regional High School located at 625 County St.
Donors will be asked to remain in their vehicles. Somerset Police request that all vehicle occupants wear a mask while attending the event.
Officers will be stuffing their cruisers with the donated toys.
Dunkin’ Donuts will also be giving out complimentary coffee, hot chocolate and donuts during the event.
The drive-thru event is being held as part of the POP Unit’s ongoing toy drive during which residents can drop off new and unwrapped toys, books, arts and crafts supplies, board games, card games and sports equipment for boys and girls age 12 and under.
The department is also seeking donations of gift cards to local restaurants and stores, as well as wrapping paper, tape, gift tags, holiday cards, large boxes and contractor bags to help store the toys and deliver them to families.
Donations for the toy drive will be accepted at the Somerset Police station through Sunday, Dec. 13.
All toys and other gifts will go directly to families in need in Somerset in the coming weeks.
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