This time, Santa Claus won’t be traveling by reindeer and sleigh or landing on any chimneys. Instead, Santa will be delivering toys to girls and boys by motorcycle, riding down Northern Virginia and Montgomery County roadways.
The Fairfax County Police Department’s motorcycle squad will take on the roles of Santa and his elves this week to deliver toys to children who are hospitalized or in need during the holiday season.
The police department said this week’s event is its 25th annual Ride for Children.
Santa and his helpers are slated to pick up toys and other donated items from police stations and other county government buildings on Monday, the police department said.
Then they’ll hit the streets to pass out the toys.
The crew will visit seven Fairfax County public schools on Tuesday, then bring toys to children at Inova Fairfax Hospital on Wednesday and Georgetown Hospital’s Lombardi Cancer Center on Thursday.
Toys will also be donated to the Ronald McDonald House and Reston-FISH, a nonprofit that helps people with emergencies and short-term needs.
People can donate games, books and toys through 9 a.m. Monday by dropping them off at Fairfax County police stations or schools.
Santa will also be making an early visit to Montgomery County this week.
Santa and Montgomery County motorcycle officers will visit wounded warriors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Wednesday. Then, they’ll ride through Bethesda and see kids hospitalized at the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health.
Police said officers are collecting donations to buy gift cards that will be given to families at the inn who need to buy food and supplies. The money will also be used to buy gifts for children receiving treatment.
People can make a donation at childrensinn.org. Donors should click on “Ways to give” and note that the donation is for the “Santa Police Ride.”
