Toys For Tots Donates Truckloads Of Bikes To Sheriff's Toy Drive

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — For the second consecutive week, the Burlington County Sheriff's Department Holiday Toy Drive has received a large donation from a community partner, according to officials.

Mount Laurel-based Marine Toys for Tots of Burlington County donated two truckloads of 75 bicycles to the drive last week, county officials announced.

The donation came after the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department agreed to supply some gifts to Toys for Tots families after a large container of toys the organization had collected was damaged by flooding, according to officials.

Toys for Tots was able to recover from that loss thanks to what officials called, “extra generous donations.” They then made the bicycle donation to the sheriff’s department’s toy drive.

“This is what the holidays are all about: Helping one another. We’re all in Burlington County working hard to help as many families as possible,” Burlington County Sheriff Anthony Basantis said. “We know numerous children in need and all these toys and bikes will help brighten their holiday.”

“We wanted to partner with Burlington County Sheriff’s Department because we all have the same mission: for every child to open a toy for Christmas. They were generous enough to take on the groups I didn’t think I would be able to help this year,” Toys for Tots Coordinator Gina Capate said. “My idea was to reach out to the Sheriff’s Department and share the wealth. It means a lot to us to give to them.”

It also comes a week after Amazon made a $26,000 donation of toys, sporting equipment, electronics, household essentials and personal hygiene items to the annual drive. Read more here: Amazon Makes $26K Donation To Burlington County Toy Drive

“Both these donations were extraordinarily generous. We want to thank Toys for Tots, Amazon and all the other residents and businesses that have donated this year,” Basantis said. “Because of all this community support, this is already our most successful toy drive in our 25-year history.”

Each winter, Marine Toys for Tots holds its own annual toy drive.Last year, they distributed 69,119 toys that has helped 20,056 children, according to their website.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation or have a box of toys collected can contact Marine Toys for Tots of Burlington County at 856-360-0016 or send an email to MT.LAUREL.NJ@TOYSFORTOTS.ORG.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization that should be profiled, contact Anthony.Bellano@patch.com.