The Telescope

Issue Date: 12/10/07

Campus Police Dept. collects holiday toys for children in need

Fifth annual toy drive will benefit college's Extended Opportunity Programs and Services

By Ashley Ward

Media Credit: Elliot de Lisser The Palomar College Police Department is holding their 5th annual toy drive through Dec. 14. Donations can be sent to the campus police stations at the San Marcos campus.

The holiday season is upon us and one of the greatest and most rewarding gifts is giving a gift to someone less fortunate than ourselves. This semester the Palomar College Police Department is making that possible with the 5th annual PCPD Toy Drive.

The toy drive will benefit Palomar's Extended Opportunity Programs and Services and it will also hopefully be spread throughout other local children's organizations, Palomar Police Officer and PCPD Toy Drive coordinator Brian Herritt said.

In the past, extra donations have been sent to the Palomar pediatric ward and the Polinski children's center.

Donations will only be accepted if they are new and in their original packaging. They will also be taking cash or check donations made payable to EOP&S. Donations such as board games, books, dolls and video games would be nice gifts.

"We really need more donations for the older kids, preteen to teenage," Herritt said. "Things like CDs, gift certificates or DVDs are great gifts for them."

Donations can be sent to the campus police stations at the San Marcos and Escondido campuses as well as the main entrance kiosk, EOP&S building, and the Admissions Office.

The PCPD Toy Drive began on Nov. 26 and will continue to run through Dec. 14. As of Dec. 5 they have collected approximately 150 toys.

"I am coordinating the event, but it is a group effort from Campus Police and other volunteers," Herritt said.

EOP&S will be hosting a holiday party for the students of the EOP&S program and their families on the evening of Dec. 14. There are already 80 to 100 families who have registered to attend the holiday event.

The children of these families will then receive some of the donated gifts and what is leftover will then be taken to other organizations.

The past two years the PCPD Toy Drive has collected approximately 800 toys, said Herritt. This year they are hoping they will get a turn out just as successful.

"Hopefully people will be out shopping this weekend and pick up a couple of extra toys for us," Herritt said.

For more information on the PCPD Toy Drive contact Officer Brian Herritt at (760) 744-1150, ext. 2289.

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