As the holiday season quickly approaches, many are thinking about gift giving. In our community, the Northern York County Regional Police Department has been hosting the Toys for Tots for about four to five years in an effort to make the holidays a little happier for some families. 

Dover Area High School (DAHS) resource officer Andrew Shaffer provided some insight on the importance of Toys for Tots. He said, “Toys for Tots is to help give back to the community and the less fortunate around the holidays. It builds positive relationships with the police and the community members.” 

Dover Area Middle School resource officer Dave Englar shared the details of the event held on Nov 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “The goal was to get as many toys as possible donated,” he said.

You may not think that you’re making a change with one gift but within our community any contribution matters. Shaffer mentions that with the season of gifting, many are not willing to donate if they don’t know where the donations go. Fortunately Shaffer provides details of how the NYCRPD Toys for Tots is local. He said, “Toys for Tots stays local with the gifts and doesn’t go outside our own community which is why we promote it so much.” 

Englar said, “We actually held two events simultaneously due to how large of an area our police department covers where the community could come to donate to our main station in Dover or donate in Spring Grove where we were also stationed.”

It led to a great amount of donations for the children who often wouldn’t receive anything if not for the event. The residents in Dover were able to help fill up nine to ten police cars worth of toys. 

The police department is a leading example of how giving someone or something can change a person’s life and shows that others care. Englar said, “Your contribution may not seem big, but in conjunction with others it really does help. By donating this will grow the bonds in our community and others.”