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CopsWhoCare.Org |
POLICE GROUP SEEKS TOYS TO BRIGHTEN KIDS' HOLIDAY
Published on Friday, December 3, 1993
(c) 1993 The Arizona Republic
Byline: By Bruce Ellison, Special to Community
Police officers and sheriff's deputies in northwest Maricopa County will distribute toys again this year to as many as 800 children who otherwise might have a bleak Christmas.
Whether they meet that goal hinges on whether residents of the area are as generous again this year with donations as they have been in the past, police officers said. To help get prospective donors into the holiday spirit, the police organization Cops Who Care, is sponsoring a number of activities in Wickenburg, starting with a Saturday tree-lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Residents and visitors may join the police in decorating and lighting the tree, at Wickenburg Way and Tegner Street. Coffee, cocoa and donuts will be provided.
On Dec. 12, the police will host the annual Remember When Cruise Association cruise and show of antique and classic cars from the Phoenix area. More than 300 classic cars will be on display at Coffinger Park (three blocks north of downtown on U.S. 89 and 93) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities include car judging, slow drags, volleyball games, food and ice cream booths. That same day, Wickenburg merchants plan a number of side walk sales.
Wickenburg's Children's Christmas parade is scheduled for Dec. 18, starting at 10:30 a.m., and will include Santa riding in a firetruck. He also plans to stick around after the parade to talk to children individually, Police Chief Doug Willmann said.
On Dec. 19, at 1 p.m., the police and anyone else who wants to help will wrap gifts collected for the kids at the downtown Wickenburg Community Center, where snacks and coffee will be provided.
The gifts will be delivered from Dec. 20 to 24 -- by Santa, with police providing escorts and transport -- to children in Wittmann, Circle City, Morristown, Congress and Yarnell.
On Dec. 23, Santa and the police will make deliveries to Wickenburg and Aguila.
Cops Who Care is a nonprofit organization started in Wickenburg 13 years ago by a group of officers who saw how bleak Christmas was for some children in their area when they had to answer domestic disturbance calls during the holiday season.
The organization is separate from any police agency, though officers from Wickenburg, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office participate.
Last year during the Christmas season, the group distributed toys to more than 750 children. This year, according to Lt. Roy Reyer, a founder of the group and the community relations officer at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, about 800 children are expected to receive gifts. In addition to providing holiday gifts, Reyer said, the program also helps ''to establish a closer relationship between officers and children'' in the communities where the officers work.
Social service agencies help co-ordinate the gift lists and see who needs the toys. Residents of the northwest Valley who want to help may take donations of new toys to the sheriff's District 3 substation at Bell and Dysart roads in Surprise, or to the Wickenburg Police Department in the Municipal Building.
Sheriff's Posse offices in Sun City and Sun City West also will accept donations.
Because of insurance and liability problems, the group is unable to accept donations of used toys.
The group will accept homemade toys, and Reyer says many residents of the Sun Cities who have workshops have been big helpers in that respect.
Cash also is welcome, and may be sent to: Cops Who Care, P.O. Box 2780, Wickenburg 85358.
Cops Who Care has no connection with any other agency helping kids at Christmas time, or with any national group.