Santa Claus will be visiting hundreds of Harford County children this Christmas in a sheriff?s office patrol car.
The Harford County Sheriff?s Office kicked off its annual Christmas Drive earlier this week, and the agency hopes to provide toys for more than 300 children this holiday season.
“It?s part of our responsibility to help those in need,” said Sheriff Jesse Bane, who, along with others in the agency, started the annual Christmas Drive back in 1983. “It?s a way for the sheriff?s office to show it is part of the community,” he said.
In addition to new toys for Harford children who might not otherwise have gifts to open on Christmas morning, the sheriff?s office is collecting nonperishable food, clothing and personal hygiene products for more than 100 county families, according to Lauren Brooks, co-coordinator of the drive and sheriff?s office records supervisor. “We try to make sure children have several toys to open on Christmas morning, but we also try to help their families as well,” she said.
Brooks said last year the sheriff?s office provided assistance to 193 families during the holidays. She expects to help just as many families this year, if not more. The sheriff?s office also assists the Harford Community Church in Creswell as part of the drive.
“We try to let the kids know they are really special people,” said Pastor Allan Gorman, of his church?s efforts recognize children in foster care homes and their families during a holiday dinner celebration.
Gorman said the sheriff?s office provides many of the toys that are distributed during the holiday feast.
Brooks said though the sheriff?s office will only be accepting donations up to Dec. 16, families who wish to participate in the program can apply up until Dec. 22. Donation boxes for the toy drive are located at the southern precinct in Edgewood, the northern precinct in Jarrettsville and sheriff office headquarters in Bel Air.
People who wish to learn more about the program can contact Brooks at 410-836-5452.
