CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For the fifth year in a row now, the Charleston Police Department will be gathering up new toys and spreading joy to area children on Christmas.
The CPD plans to start up the 5th annual Wonderland and Toy Drive this Wednesday, December 11. It will run through Thursday, Dec. 12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days on the parking lot of the Beni Kedem Temple, 100 Quarrier St.
There they will be collecting new and unwrapped toys for children up to 18 years old as well as holding a holiday celebration for the kids and families who attend.
Lt. David Payne
Lt. David Payne joined others from the CPD on 580 Live Tuesday talking about the toy drive. Payne said it’s all worth the effort of putting on the event when they see the impact it’s making on area youth.
“I mean we have hundreds of kids that come over there, and just to see the smiles on their faces, that does it for us,” he said.
According to the news release from the Charleston Police Department, “the parking lot will be filled with the sights and sounds of Christmas,” from hot coca and treats, lights and a visit from Santa Clause himself.
Kids will be able to get their pictures taken with Santa and there will also be bouncy houses set up for them to play on.
Children from the Discovery Learning Center will welcome Santa with a performance and gifts at noon the opening day of the event on Wednesday.
Payne said there will be even more in store as well as he laid out what attendees can expect.
“It will be lit up with lights, you will see the blue lights in the corner over there so just drive up, we’ll have officers on-hand that will take your toys for you, and we may even have a surprise gift for our first 100 people who drop off toys,” he said.
Following the two-day event, toy distributions are expected to get underway on Tuesday, Dec. 17 and will go through Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
Payne said they were able to provide toys to over 800 kids last year. He said this is their way of giving back.
“We look forward to this really every year, all of our officers look forward to this,” Payne said. “We actually have gifts we give our officers and they take them out to their beats, and they go up to children, just random children and give them the presents, or they knock on the door of a residence they visited in the past.”
Payne said any parent or guardian who needs toys for their children on Christmas can sign up on their Facebook Page: Charleston WV Police or call him at (304)348-6470.
He said any business or organization who wants to donate toys but can’t make it out to the event can do so on their Facebook Page by clicking on a link.
“You know, we don’t want any a kid to go without a present on Christmas, that’s really the biggest thing here,” Payne said.
Sponsors of Wonderland and Toy Drive include: Astorg Auto, Delegate Doug Skaff, Ben Salango Law, Elco Mechanical, Kevin Davis Law, Charlie’s Boutique, Select collectibles, The Hale House, Vinos Sports Bar, Lowes of Charleston (Kanawha City) Sights Sounds and Speed, Chick-fil-A, Quantum Sports, V100, 107 The Beat and CPAAA