EDISON – The Grinch may have a heart after all.
Just ask the officers of the Edison Community Oriented Policing Unit and Traffic Unit, who teamed up for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program this year with the support of Police Chief Thomas Bryan.
“We were able to maximize our efforts with our special units,” said Police Sgt. Donald Ship, who makes up the Community Oriented Policing Unit with Police Officer Shirley Dong.
More than 4,000 toys were collected for the Edison Police Department’s annual toy drive.
“I am extremely proud of our Community Oriented Policing Unit and other officers who collectively obtained over 4,000 toys and monetary donations for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program, which is a new record,” Bryan said. “This will help to ensure that the children of families in need will have a wonderful Christmas.”
The Edison Police Department has been participating in the Toys for Tots program for a couple of years. In 2017, “The Grinch” joined in their efforts.
This year, the police special units, with their friends the Grinch and Mrs. Claus, collected toys from Nov. 12 to Dec. 14. They were at the Thomas Edison Center tree lighting on Dec. 1, the township’s 31st annual tree lighting ceremony Dec. 2, at the Edison Municipal Complex Dec. 3, at John P. Stevens High School on Dec. 10, and at Edison High School on Dec. 11.
“We added Stuff a Cruiser and with the support of the big box stores in the township, we parked in their parking lots asking for donations,” Ship said, noting The Grinch and Mrs. Claus certainly grabbed the attention of shoppers.
The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
The toy drive closes out the Edison Police Community Oriented Policing Units’ continuous efforts to help the community.
“By the end of the year, we will start planning for spring and summer activities,” Ship said.