Glen Rock Police Department Toy, Book Drive Runs Through Dec. 16

GLEN ROCK, NJ – With Christmas quickly approaching and with the holiday season in full swing, the Glen Rock Police Department is continuing its annual toy drive, which will be collecting unwrapped toys and books for almost the next week.

The Glen Rock Police-PBA Local 110 drive will accept items through midnight on Dec. 16, the department said. Toys and books will be provided to local children in need.

This is the 33rd annual Santa Response Team PBA Toy Drive event, which is run by local police officers from Glen Rock along with local businesses, which have worked together to collect toys, books, gift cards and other items to brighten the holiday season for local children.

"The SRT toy drive is one of the most rewarding, genuinely good hearted and community built programs our area has ever seen," Sgt. Bryan Scott of the Glen Rock Police Department, who has worked as the liaison for the event for the past 10 years. "Year after year, the response from Glen rock and local families, is humbling and exciting all at once. From local businesses, families, communities, police departments, and strangers alike, we see pure, heartfelt contribution and give back to those in need, no questions asked. It’s a program that seems to function and succeed without tainted views or differences."

Thanks to the collective effort, the contributing participants are able to put gifts under holiday trees and put meals on tables for those who need it most in surrounding communities around Bergen County, Scott said.

Local police officers have collected gift cards, monetary donations and hundreds of toys already this season with nearly a week still remaining. All toys, books, gift cards and monetary donations are appreciated and always welcome, Scott said. The department can always use gifts targeted for the older age groups including electronics, headphones, older age group games, gift cards, and other items which are always in demand for local families.

The group also accepts monetary donations and will allot certain amounts to fulfill the needs that officers know their collection efforts have not met while the remaining contributions go towards helping families with meals and basic necessities.

Items may be dropped at the following locations:

• Glen Rock Municipal Building, located at 1 Harding Plaza
• Sasha Hair & Nail Design, located at 199 Rock Road
• The Curious Reader, 229 Rock Road
• Kilroy’s Wonder Market, 288 Rock Road
• Mathnasium, located at 236 Rock Road

For more information about the annual drive, questions can be directed to Sgt. Bryan Scott with the Glen Rock Police Department by email at bscott@glenrockpolice.com.