Santa Ride Visits Schools That Donated Toys For Children In Hospital

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Santa Claus is coming to town — and he's riding a Harley.

On Tuesday morning, motor officers from Fairfax County, Fairfax City, the towns of Herndon and Vienna, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police departments joined deputies from Fairfax County and the City of Falls Church on the annual Santa Ride and toy drive.

"We've done this for the past 35 years," said PFC T.J. Kolwicz, who coordinated this year's ride. "It's just ingrained into our unit. It's a bit of tradition and a bit of wanting to give back and just getting into the Christmas spirit."

Each year, motor officers from the participating police departments escort Santa Claus throughout Fairfax County as he makes his way to thank the schools whose students and staff donated toys for children at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

"I start planning as early as August or September," Kolwicz told Patch on Tuesday morning "We have to coordinate with the hospital to receive the toys that we collect. I plan with all the schools that we're going to bring collection boxes to, to raise toys to bring to Fairfax Hospital. And then the last thing that I have to do is plan the route for us to go to all the schools to express our appreciation for them donating for the ride."

On Monday, officers visited each of the schools participated in the toy drive.

"We'll be making the delivery to Fairfax Hospital on Wednesday," Kolwicz said. "Santa Claus will come, and he'll hand-deliver toys to the sick kids in the hospital."

This year, the ride is divided into two groups, one covering the northern half of Fairfax County and the other the southern half.

Officers on the southern route made their first stop of the morning outside the headquarters of the City of Fairfax Police Department, where they participated in a safety briefing. At 8:30 a.m., they headed out to visit the following schools:

• Holy Spirit School, 8800 Braddock Road, Annandale
• Word of Life Christian Academy, 5525 Braddock Road, Springfield
• Island Creek Elementary School, 7855 Morning View Lane, Alexandria
• Greentree Christian School, 7600 Ox Road, Fairfax Station
• Fairfax County Police Association, 5625 Revercomb Court, Fairfax
• Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax
• Oakwood School, 7210 Braddock Road, Annandale

Officers traveling with the northern route followed this schedule on Tuesday:

• Operations Support Bureau, 3911 Woodburn Road, Annandale
• Saint Ambrose Catholic School, 3827 Woodburn Road Annandale
• Vienna Police Department, 215 Center St. S., Vienna
• Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church, 1301 Trap Road, Vienna
• Pender Hill Pre-School, 12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax
• Fairfax County Police Association, 5625 Revercomb Court, Fairfax
• Saint Timothy Catholic School, 13809 Poplar Tree Road, Chantilly
• Mosaic District, 2910 Strawberry Lane, Fairfax
• Operations Support Bureau, 3911 Woodburn Road, Annandale

The two squads make 15-minute stops at each of the locations on their schedules.

"What resonates with me is that if I knew my child was sick, this would make a huge difference for me," Kolwicz said. "That's why we try to fill our warehouse every year with as many toys as we can for charity."

Around the county we ride! 🎅 🏍️ @PenderUMC School had an excited crowd ready as Santa rode up this morning to say hi with all his friends today! 🎁 🤩 🙌 #FCPD making a difference in our communities this holiday season and every season! 🎄 pic.twitter.com/N6etkUMJsH
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) December 12, 2023