Time ticking away for this year’s Blue Line Toy Drive

“This time of year is always difficult for lower income families,” said Sheriff Keith Havard. “It is especially difficult for children to understand why everyone around them seem to be immersed in the holiday season except them. They cannot understand a mom who is raising them alone and desperately trying to simply make ends meet or parents whose lives are wrecked by drugs with nothing left over for Christmas giving. Being ‘different’ and left out leave scars in a child’s mind that last a lifetime.”

Instead of simply handing out toys to kids whose parents or grandparents register them for the gifts, Havard and his staff help youngsters with some of what they really need.

“Unfortunately, children are too often on the frontlines when it comes to being affected by poverty,” Havard added. “There are children in our school district who do not have socks to wear to school, whose secondhand shoes or pants are two sizes too big because there is no money for new clothes that fit properly. These are some of the issues we are hoping to help with.”

Teachers identify students (and their siblings) who need coats, or shoes, or socks, or other items and submit the list of items with proper sizes to the Sheriff’s Department. The names of the children are kept confidential by the teacher. The Sheriff’s Department then solicits donations so the clothing items can be purchased. They also accept toy donations so each child will also receive an age and gender appropriate toy. The items are delivered to the school so they can be discreetly given to the child’s parents “from Santa” before the Christmas holiday break.

Community support for this program has been outstanding, according to Havard. Teachers have identified up to 300 youngsters with desperate need and who likely will not have any other Christmas gifts.

The deadline for toy donations to be delivered to the Sheriff’s Department was December 10, according to Havard. Monetary donations are being accepted through December 13; however, cash donations after that date will continue to be accepted. Money received after the December 13 deadline will be put into the Sheriff’s Department Benevolent Fund and held until next year.

Any size donation helps, according to Havard.

For those wanting to help out, checks may be mailed to the GCSO at 355 Cox St., Ste. B, Lucedale, MS 39452, made out to “GCSO Benevolent Fund” with “Toy Drive” on the memo line, or they can be dropped off at the Sheriff’s Office in the Courthouse.

Toy donations can be dropped off at Agricola Baptist Church in the office, at either of the Walt Massey dealerships, or at the Courthouse.