CCPD ‘Fill the Boat’ toy drive set for Dec. 6-8
Picking up an extra toy or two while you’re shopping this weekend might make the holidays a little brighter for a child in need.
The Cape Coral Police Department will be at Target on Pine Island Road and Walmart on Del Prado Boulevard S for three days collecting donations for their “Fill The Boat” Toy Drive, now in its 13th year helping bring holiday cheer to children in the Cape.
CCPD will be there with its Marine Unit vessel to “fill the boat” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6 at Target, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 8 at Walmart.
“Our partnership with our citizens is why we live in such a wonderful city, and this partnership carries over to our participation in charitable causes,” said CCPD spokesperson, Master Sgt. Patrick O’Grady. “Every year we are amazed at the generosity of the citizens of Cape Coral and their ability to make the holidays brighter for those in need.”
Nearly 2,000 toys are collected each year to be distributed to children in the community whose families may not be able to provide as much as they’d like, or unable to provide anything at all.
“New toys will be distributed to local families in need in time for the holidays,” O’Grady said.
The drive is rewarding for the officers and children alike, as CCPD’s finest will hand-deliver these gifts and see first-hand how a simple kind gesture can make all the difference in the world to a young child.
“Officers often see the darkest sides of humanity during the course of their work. These brighter moments are the times that officers choose to remember; interacting with people in a positive way that showcases their goodness goes a long way toward keeping spirits up for the holidays and beyond,” O’Grady said.
CCPD will accept any new, and unwrapped gifts, creating a colorful display on their Marine Unit boat of all the donations that will go toward making a child smile.
O’Grady said the holidays are an important time to show an act of kindness.
“Acts of kindness happen all the time, both from public and from our officers throughout the year. The holidays do, however, afford a lot of opportunities for people to give to those less fortunate,” he said.
The collection points are the Walmart at 1619 Del Prado Boulevard S. and the Target at 1890 NE Pine Island Rd.
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