UMass Dartmouth Police Department and Student Organizations Lead Efforts for Toy Donation Drive
Today UMass Dartmouth police helped deliver toys to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford. The toys will be given to over 700 families throughout New Bedford and Fall River. The toys that will end up in the hands of children in need were donated and collected through several charitable endeavors led by the UMass Dartmouth Police Department and other student organizations.
At the UMass Dartmouth holiday party, Chancellor Divina Grossman asked faculty and staff to bring an unwrapped toy to make someone else's holiday brighter. These toys were added to those already donated from the UMass Dartmouth Gaming Society, Humans vs Zombies, a "Stuff a Cruiser" toy drive in which a UMass Dartmouth police cruiser was stuffed with toys donated by the university community, and the money collected from "Quarters for Christmas", an annual event in which the UMassD community enjoys hot dogs sold for 75 cents, was used to purchase toys as well.
The Quarters for Christmas has been a 16 year endeavor begun by UMass Dartmouth Police Officer Dennis Tucker and continued by current Crime Prevention Officer Steven Mello. The police department has collaborated with the Massachusetts State Police for the last several years. This partnership was made possible through the efforts of UMass Dartmouth Alumnus Jose Gonsalves, Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant (Retired).
"Through all our combined efforts it is very gratifying to know that Christmas morning can be a brighter and happier for those families who find themselves in need of a helping hand this Christmas Season," said University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Police Captain Tim Sheehan.