Higginson police ‘Fill Up the Police Car’ for Memphis hospital
HIGGINSON — Higginson Police Chief Eric Patterson and Officer Jan Mullen have taken it upon themselves to man a toy drive for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dubbed the “Fill Up the Police Car Toy Drive,” the effort will run through Thursday, Patterson said.
Toys may be dropped off at City Hall, 100 Walker Road, or across the street at the Higginson Police Department, or anyone who needs toys picked up may call Patterson at (501) 388-2358, Mullen at (501) 8275026, or City Hall at (501) 7423678, and someone will come get the toys.
Higginson is a city of about 650 on the outskirts of Searcy, just off Arkansas 367 on Arkansas 11.
Patterson said he once had a family member at St. Jude.
“I have seen the kids there, their faces,” he said. “Christmas is especially hard. They need help there. The families stay long periods. … We are trying to help out.”
Toys that can be accepted include video games, controllers and accessories (no game consoles); new-release DVDs rated G, PG or PG-13 (no VHS tapes); Bluetooth compatible portable speakers; iPads, iPad minis and iPad accessories; instant cameras and film (Fuji film and Polaroid); Nintendo 3DS and 2DS consoles, games and accessories; television-series DVDs; headphones/ earbuds; beginner guitar sets; iPhone 5s, 5c and 6 accessories; video cameras; portable DVD players; CDs, all genres; a Kindle Fire HD 7; a small keyboard; and $10-$50 gift cards from Best Buy, Target, Game Stop, Amazon, iTunes, Apple or Starbucks.
There are some things that are not acceptable, Patterson said, “some things they cannot be around,” such as chemicals, so it is best to stick to the list of items from St. Jude, he said.
“It is in my heart and has pulled at my heart [to try and get some of these items],” Patterson said. “I have seen faces. … They need it, and their families need it — this show of love and spirit of giving.”
If anyone cannot afford to buy these items, coloring books and crayons are always needed, he said.
“These keep them well occupied. Many are hooked to machines. … This gives them something to play with,” Patterson said.
In addition to coloring books and crayons, items needed for activity and family bags are markers, paper, travel-size shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss and razors.
Suggested gifts for adolescents, ages 13 and older, include Lego sets, model kits, model glue and paint sets; popular purses such as Vera Bradley, Coach, Fossil, Michael Kors; and OPl nail polish.
Recommended items for infants to school-age children include popular Disney items and characters; Doc McStuffins; Thomas and Friends; popular action figures; Lego sets, doll houses, doll-house furniture and people; American Girl dolls and accessories; Sesame Street items; Inside Out figures (no plush figures); Minecraft; Imaginext toys; sports balls; multicultural dolls and accessories; and Fisher Price Little People play sets.
Items that cannot be accepted at St. Jude include stuffed animals, food, toy guns, candy, sand, clay, dolls made of cloth, balloons, porcelain dolls, VHS movies, soap/bubble mixtures and any items that contain fabric.
Patterson praised St. Jude, saying that there are about 60 children in the hospital at any given time.
“It does not cost the family. St. Jude takes care of everything. We are trying to help out, too,” he said.
Patterson plans to take the toys to Memphis to the hospital and let the families “shop” for their children.
If anything is donated that cannot be accepted at St. Jude, those toys and items will be given to needy families in Higginson, Patterson said.
For anyone who wants to make donations directly to the hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s mailing address is P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929, the phone number is (800) 822-6344, and the website is stjude.org.
“Finding cures. Saving lives,” is the thrust at St. Jude, Patterson said, and in Higginson, the idea is to think of others during the Christmas season, especially the children at St. Jude.
“St. Jude is the only [hospital] in the world like it,” Patterson said. He and Mullen hope to see the patrol cars overflowing with toys by Thursday.