Woonsocket Police Toy Drive comes through
Christmas party puts bow on drive, which saw volunteer efforts net over 6,000 toys
WOONSOCKET – The Woonsocket Police Toy Drive ended on Friday with a Christmas party held by the New Beginnings meal program in All Saints Parish Hall after what turned out to be a very successful collection effort for 2017.
Det. Sgt. John Scully, drive coordinator, turned over the last batch of toys for the 98 children participating in the party and watched with fellow department members as Santa Claus handed them out to the kids and their families.
The party, similar to those held in drive’s early years, included pizza that was donated for the event, cupcakes, holiday treats, and soft drinks from the parish.
Scully estimated that the drive collected over 6,000 toys for its distributions to a total of 462 families signed up by the Community Care Alliance, and for the most part scheduled for pickup at the police station over the past two weeks.
“There was a lot of need this year and we had a lot of volunteers helping out,” Scully said during the party. The drive, helping double the number of families helped last year, benefited from its annual donors and also a number of local businesses maintaining collection boxes where their patrons could leave toys, according to Scully.
The final drop-offs this year came in from Luc’s Bar & Grill on River Street, Renaissance Tattoo on Main Street, American Cord & Webbing at Park East Drive, and Terry’s Tire and Auto, Scully said.
The police department’s volunteers helping Scully included, Det. Sgt. Kevin Greenough, Det. Jesse Nunnemacher, Det. Joshua Smith, Patrolman Alex Simmons, Sgt. Justin Glode, Det. Gabriel Konezcy, Det. Michael Flood, and Dispatcher Pam Jalette.
Greenough said he also saw a lot more need out in the community this year and was happy to see how the donors responded. “The community was very giving again this year just as usual,” he said. American Cord & Webbing turned over two loads of toys just before the party, Greenough noted.
“The businesses stepped up this year as did a lot of individuals,” he said.
The family of the late Ron Auger, a dispatcher for the department, held two events, one with the Woonsocket Knights of Columbus and another at their home on Wood Avenue, to help fill the toy orders again this year. And the drive saw plenty of people just dropping off toys at the station as happens every year, according to its volunteers.
“There are going to be a few more smiles on kids this year because of something they might not have had an opportunity to receive otherwise,” Greenough said of the drive.
As she watched her five grandchildren get toys from Santa on Friday, Donna Smith said she thought the police toy drive had really helped a lot of families. Her son works but doesn’t make enough to provide for everything, Smith said.
“This definitely helps because they all have a toy to start out with,” she said. “When the holidays come around, this helps take the pressure off families,” she said. And as for the kids, they just love their toys, she said. “It’s fantastic. It really is,” Smith said.
New Beginnings financial officer Kelly Leclaire, found working the pizza and refreshment table with program co-directors, Jeanne Michon and Pauline Leclerc, said the party went just according to plan. “It’s been fantastic,” Leclaire said. “Everyone seemed happy with their toys and we will absolutely do this again next year,” she said.