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Date: 12/9/2020
SOUTHAMPTON – The Southampton Police Department and the Southampton Lions Club will host their fifth annual Lions Club Toy Drive on Dec. 12 from 9:30 a.m. until 12 p.m.
Due to coronavirus, this will be a drive-thru event, which will take place at the Southampton Police Department at 8 East St. Police Chief Ian Illingsworth said to limit contact and ensure that social distance takes place, an officer or Lion’s Club member will retrieve the gift from the donor and then place the gift in the cruiser.
The Southampton Police Department asks that people who are donating wear a mask. They are also asking that people donate unopened and unwrapped toys or gift cards. Monetary donations are accepted and will be used to purchase gift cards for children in their early teenage years.
Art Lustenburger, a member of the Lions Club, said having the toy drive is more important than ever this year. “With a number of people out of work or have a limited income because of part-time jobs. You see the lines for food and if people cannot afford food, how are they going to afford toys for their kids.”
For people who wish to donate but cannot make the drive-thru stuff a cruiser event, there are three additional ways that donations can be made.
Illingsworth shared that donations can be brought to the police station until Dec. 23, the police department asks that you call when you arrive and can leave the gift outside for an officer to retrieve. Lustenburger shared that there is a donation box at The Package Store in Westfield at 1029 North Rd. and Bialecki said people can bring donations to the center.
Illingsworth shared that all donations will be brought to the Easthampton Community Center (ECA) for distribution to local families in need.
ECA Director Robin Bialecki said families have to sign up to receive presents. She explained that the sign-up sheet is essentially a wishlist for the children. The sheet asks what the children are interested in so they can do their best to provide a toy that they will like. It also asks what size the children are because the center gives the child a new set of pajamas.
Bialecki said families can go to the center to pick up the form and fill it out. She advises that people call before showing up.
She told Reminder Publishing that the toy distribution will start on Dec. 15 to avoid clusters of families. The center will call the families when their package is ready for pick-up.