Crime & Safety

Stuff-A-Cruiser a 'Tremendous Success'

More than 2,000 toys and hundreds of dollars in cash and gift cards were collected in the cooperative effort with the Farmington Police Department.

The following information was contained in a press release from Lt. David Dubiel, Community Relations, Youth Services Division.

On Friday Dec. 16, officers from the West Hartford and Farmington Police Departments braved the windy chilly New England weather in the parking lot in front of at Corbin's Corner to collect new toys for children and families in need.  

We are pleased to report that over 2,000 new toys were collected for children of all ages, ranging from new bicycles to Matchbox cars. Additionally, over $400 in gift cards and cash were donated. The cash was converted to gift cards.  

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The toys and gift cards were split evenly between the two police departments and were distributed over the course of the following week.  

The West Hartford Police Department was able to successfully donate every toy and gift card to a needy family directly or to agencies with knowledge of such families and the ability to facilitate timely distribution of the toys to families in need. 

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Included, were two families who suffered a recent untimely death of a parent.  Another was to a family with three children whose father has been laid off since November and had previously only one small toy under their tree for each child. 

Among the agencies that accepted toys or gift cards for distribution were the following: The Bridge Family Center, West Hartford Social Services, State of Connecticut Department of Children and Families (servicing West Hartford youth), the West Hartford School District, and officials from the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (providing family services).  

We consider Stuff-A-Cruiser a tremendous success and we'd like to thank every person that contributed – from small gifts to large – and to every person that assisted in this effort.  Special thanks to you great folks that brightened the season for a child or family in need.  

From our family to yours, members of the West Hartford Police Department want to wish all safe and happy holidays!


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