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Officers collect toys for area children
Robert C. Reed
Libby Grigg, with the Hickory Police Department, plays with a toy doll as she and Sherry Huffman shop for Cops for Tots at Kmart in Conover.
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Published: November 19, 2008
HICKORY - Libby Grigg spent most of the day Tuesday filling shopping carts to overflowing with thousands of dollars worth of toys, electronics and cosmetics as she began stocking up on gifts for this year's Cops for Tots event.
She started her day's shopping at Kmart and quickly loaded seven carts with Nerf play sets, radio-controlled trucks, dolls, baby toys, kitchen sets and cosmetics. When she wheeled the loot to the cashier, Grigg didn't bat an eye when the cashier announced that her total was $1,656.34 because Cops for Tots is a Hickory Police Department program that's funded entirely through donations.
Grigg, an administrative assistant with the Hickory Police Department, created Cops for Tots and started the tradition of buying presents for needy children around 25 years ago. "She's the reason this whole program exists," said Hickory police Sgt. Keith Yoder.
Cops for Tots has grown and changed over the years, but it's still going strong. Grigg said the program provided toys for 2,400 children last year and she expects to give even more presents this year.
After loading the gifts into two vehicles, Grigg and Yoder took the first load of the day to a storage room at L.P. Frans Stadium. Then they went back out and continued shopping at CVS and hh gregg.
The total spent on gifts was close to $4,000 said Grigg.
They're planning to continue shopping at Roses, Dollar Tree and Dollar General next week.
Cops for Tots makes the most of their donated dollars by not buying extravagant gifts. "We try to find things in the $10 price range for children from birth through 16 years old — both boys and girls," said Grigg.
The Cops for Tots toy giveaway will take place Dec. 15, 16 and 17 at the Winkler Activity Building beside L.P. Frans Stadium. The toys will be given away from 9 a.m. to noon. After volunteers replenish the gifts, the giveaway will continue from 3 to 6 p.m.
Parents wishing to take advantage of the giveaway are required to bring a photo ID and a Medicaid or birth certificate for each child. Although proof of income is not required, parents are only allowed to participate in Cops for Tots for three years in a row before being required to sit out a year to allow others access to the program.
Rather than being handed random gifts, parents are allowed to choose the gifts they feel their children will like best. Parents are given numbers and small groups of them are led into the room where the presents are displayed, known as the "Wish House." Children are not allowed in the gift house.
"Even though it's a lot of work, I love to help kids who otherwise might not have a Christmas," Grigg said. "As a mother, I know how important it is to make sure kids have a good Christmas."
Conover Police Department kicks off program
The Conover Police Department is kicking off its first Christmas Santa Cops program this year.
The toys and clothing given away during the program are collected from four collection points throughout Conover and are hand-delivered to children by uniformed officers on Christmas Eve.
Conover Police Officer Michael Harrison created the Santa Cops program and has high hopes for its first year.
Harrison said, "This program is for kids who wouldn't get any gifts from Santa Claus this year." He explained that he's working in partnership with the Department of Social Services and the Department of Probation and Parole to determine which families to include in the program.
When he gets a name, he contacts the parents to ask their permission for the officers to bring presents. He said he's hoping Santa Cops will help the department establish rapport with children who may never have had a positive relationship with police officers.
Gifts will be delivered to children up to age 14 on Christmas Eve.
In its first year, Santa Cops will be limited to families who live within the Conover city limits, but Harrison hopes to expand the program in the years to come.
The Conover Police Department is seeking donations of for its program.
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