CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Santa Clause will be arriving in the Capitol City later today to help bring in the crowd for the Charleston Police Department’s fifth annual Wonderland and Toy Drive.
The two-day donation event started up Wednesday and will last through Thursday until 7 p.m. on the parking lot of the Beni Kedem Temple. Santa is expected to arrive at 5:30 p.m.
It’s an effort to collect new and unwrapped toys for children up to 18-years-old to have on Christmas.
CPD Lt. David Payne said they are hoping more people will come out Thursday evening and donate some toys.
Lt. David Payne
“It was a little slow yesterday because of the snow, so hopefully we get a little bit more people out today,” Payne said. “We’re trying to beat our goal last year of serving 800 kids, we got off to a little slow start but I think it will pick up today.”
With the toy distribution to 800 kids last year, Payne said each child probably received about three to four presents each, so overall, it was a lot of presents last year.
He said they also accept monetary donations which they typically use to buy gift cards for the 12 to 18 year old range as they are often a little more difficult to buy toys for.
Payne said they get much support, so beating last year’s goal or at least meeting it shouldn’t be too hard.
“I know with the community support, they always come out and support us and back us, so I think we can get that goal this year,” he said.
Along with the toy drive and Santa himself, the police department is also host to bouncy houses, hot coca and treats at the event.
Payne encourages everyone to come by for the last day of the two-day event.
“Just swing through our parking lot here at Beni Kedem, you’ll see the blow ups, you’ll see the blue lights, all the officers here, and we actually have a present for everyone who swings by and drops off a present,” he said.
The CPD will then begin the toy distribution process starting Tuesday, December 17 through Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
Payne said applicants can go to their Facebook page to apply for a child to receive a toy. He said they cut it off at 250 until after the toy drive to get a feel for how many donations they actually receive, but they will open the applications back up probably on Sunday.
Payne said they serve any family in need, not just within Kanawha County but surrounding counties as well.
“This is our way of giving back to the community, we don’t want any child to go without toys on Christmas, it means a lot to our officers just to bring a smile to a kid’s face on Christmas,” said Payne.