Greer police are collecting new, unwrapped toys at 102 S. Main St. through Dec. 4. Families of children 12 and under can apply for gifts until Nov. 18.
The Greer Police Department is collecting Christmas toys for Cops for Tots, its holiday program for children in the city. New, unwrapped gifts go in the donation bin in the department’s lobby at 102 S. Main St. through Friday, Dec. 4.
Families who need help have until Wednesday, Nov. 18, to apply. The program is open to children from birth to age 12 who live in the city of Greer. The details are on the city’s Cops for Tots page.
How it started
The program began 37 years ago with a few officers helping one family, the city said in its Nov. 6 article on the drive.
“And then the second year, it expanded to a handful of families,” Police Chief Matt Hamby said in the article.
Hamby said the program is now a partnership between the department and the community. It has helped thousands of children get Christmas presents over the years, the city said.
“It allows kids to see police officers in a different light, where we’re not at a police function or on a call,” Hamby said.
How to give
The department lists four ways to help:
- Drop off a gift: new and unwrapped, in the lobby bin at 102 S. Main St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Dec. 4.
- Ship a gift: order online and have it delivered to the same address by Dec. 4.
- Write a check: payable to the Greer Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, the nonprofit that helps run the program. Drop it at the lobby or mail it to the department.
- Give online: through the program’s Givebutter page. The platform adds a service charge to online gifts.
The department publishes a gift ideas list by age group. It does not accept children’s clothing, food, gaming systems or movies.
As of Monday morning, the Givebutter page showed $6,850 raised toward a $50,000 goal, or 13%, from seven supporters.
Business sponsors
Businesses can give by check or online, and their donations are tax-deductible, the city said. Its sponsorship levels are:
| Level | Gift |
|---|---|
| Sponsor a Child | $250 |
| Christmas Champion | $500 or more |
| Holiday Hero | $1,000 or more |
| Christmas Partner | $2,500 or more |
| Miracle Maker | $5,000 or more |
Sponsors are recognized for their gifts, the city said.
Distribution day
Approved families will be notified and invited to a gift event Friday, Dec. 11.
“On the distribution day, the kids will come with their parents, and we will pair up a child with a police officer,” Hamby said. “They get to walk through the toy store that we’ve set up.”
What it means for you
- To give a toy: take it new and unwrapped to the police lobby on South Main Street by 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. Check the gift list first, since clothing, food, gaming systems and movies are turned away.
- To give money: a check to the Greer Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association avoids the online service charge.
- To ask for help: apply online or pick up a paper form in the police lobby by Wednesday, Nov. 18. Children must be 12 or younger and live inside Greer city limits.
For more ways to mark the season, see our guides to holiday lights and Christmas events and the Greer Christmas parade and tree lighting.
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