Rick Patrick
rick@greenepublishing.com
On the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 21, the Madison County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) held a toy giveaway at Four Freedoms Park. In addition to a multitude of toys for girls and boys (even pups), there was hot chocolate, courtesy of 11:1 Catering, and cookies. Any child who wanted one, was invited to select one toy and one stuffed animal.
Some of the toys were toys that the MCSO collects throughout the year. Others were donated to the “Toys for Tots” program, which the MCSO helps to administer in Madison County. The Toys for Tots
program has a set of criteria that must be met in order to receive the toys. After all those toys are distributed to eligible recipients, the remaining toys are saved for events such as the one held at Four Freedoms Park. Often, the MCSO receives monetary donations and the department will use those funds to purchase more toys. “It really does your heart good to be able to give these toys out,” said Madison County Sheriff David Harper. “We collect these toys all year long, not just around the holidays. We will give them out at events like this, or in the case of a house fire where a family loses everything, we will donate toys to the kids.”
“I love the fact that this even brings families out to enjoy the park,” added Sheriff Harper.
“Seeing the smiles on the kids' faces, it can really put a lump in your throat.”
In addition to the event at Four Freedoms Park, the MCSO held a toy giveaway earlier in the day at
Haffye Hays Park, in Greenville.