During last year’s police toy drive, the Methuen Police Department and residents collected 1,800 toys for children throughout the Merrimack Valley. (File photograph.)
Methuen’s brothers and sisters in blue are hosting a toy drive so that no city child goes without a gift under the Christmas tree this year.
Located at the Methuen Police Department, the tree is covered in snowball-shaped tags that feature gift requests from area children, including presents like Target gift cards or the popular toy du jour, a slime-making kit. Police department staff who submit a gift will brighten the holiday for an area children in need when presents are distributed during the Dec. 15 Everett Mills event in Lawrence. Community members may drop off new, unwrapped toys at the 90 Hampshire St. police station, before Dec. 23 to be distributed in conjunction with local nonprofit Debbie‘s Treasure Chest.
“I am so grateful to see the department organize this generous event every year and help ensure that children in need wake up to a special Christmas morning,” Methuen Mayor James P. Jajuga said of the goodwill effort. “I have no doubt that our officers and the community as a whole will do their part to make a lasting impact on the lives of kids.”
Last year, police and community members donated 1,800 toys to children in Methuen and throughout the Merrimack Valley.