Capitol Police, Nevada Department of Public Safety staff deliver Toys for Tots
With requests for children's Christmas gifts soaring over the past three years, the Toys For Tots program in Carson City got a healthy boost courtesy of the Capitol Police division of the Nevada Department of Public Safety.
For the past several weeks Capitol Police officers and Nevada Department DPS staff members have been collecting new unwrapped toys, bicycles and warm clothing in Carson City to assist the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves with its the Toys for Tots collection drive effort.
All of the toys and bicycles and other items collected this season were officially presented to Toys for Tots and members of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves at the Nevada State Capitol Lobby on Wednesday and will be distributed to families in need throughout our local community.
"This is truly wonderful and greatly appreciated.There will be many families who will have a better Christmas this year because of the Capitol Police and Nevada Department of Public Safety," said Joyce Buckingham, Toys for Tots coordinator and executive director of the Ron Wood Family Resource Center in Carson City.
With the economy continuing to impact the region, demand for Christmas toys, bicycles and clothing has soared by more than 50 percent over the past three years, Buckingham said.
"There are so many local families who have never had to ask before and they've come in and asked as a last resort. We greet them all with dignity and are happy to help out," she said.
This year more than 22,000 toys will be distributed to children in the Carson City area, Buckingham said. Many of those were collected in barrels by Capitol Police officers and DPS employees, it is a tradition the officers have carried out for six years.
"This something we believe strongly in doing, giving back to our citizens because our citizens have been helpful to us," said Thomas Navin, Chief of the Nevada Capitol Police.
Also on hand was Nevada Highway Patrol Chief Troy Abney who said he and his wife go have made it a tradition to go out every year and buy gifts and give money for the Toys for Tots program.
"It gives us an opportunity to give back to our locals and support a very important community program," Chief Abney said.
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