Crime & Safety
Play Santa to Local Kids: Donate Toys and Gifts to Auxiliary Police Drive
Unwrapped gifts for ages one to mid-teens will be distributed locally to underprivileged families.
The holiday season will be a bit brighter for underprivileged Port Chester and Rye Brook children this year.
The Port Chester Auxiliary Police is collecting unwrapped toy gifts and money for children served at the Carver Center.
The toy drive began Nov. 5 and will run through Dec. 14.
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“Every weekend, we target a shopping center,” said assistant director John Touri, who expects to be at Kohl's shopping center this Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm.
Additionally, toys will be accepted at the , located at 400 Westchester Ave.
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Touri was born and raised in the town, and is a third generation member of the auxiliary police organization. Currently in his 17th year, he has served as assistant director for the past three years and believes that giving back is just something that you do.
Unwrapped toys and gifts should be appropriate for ages one to mid-teens. Touri and president Melissa Salmon wanted to do something that they have never done before to benefit the children and families of Port Chester and Rye Brook.
The Carver Center serves 400 families that are unable to give gifts this holiday season, according to Touri.
“We are all volunteers, beyond the duties to the village. We are doing it on our own time,” said Touri. “We want to make the holidays a little more brighter and special to families who could not afford to do it on their own.”
The Auxiliary Police is a village entity, “so we chose the Carver Center because we wanted to see our efforts used locally.”
Families of the children will receive the donations along with wrapping paper on Dec. 15.
It's sometimes hard to find the perfect gift for teenagers, so Touri suggests gift cards “because if they accumulate two or more they can get larger items.”
Individuals looking to schedule a pick up should contact John Touri at johntouripcapd@att.blackberry.net.
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