Redding Police Officers are holding a toy drive as they ask the community to help support their “Operation Blue Santa”. Since 1991, the Redding Peace Officers Association and Redding Police Department has visited Redding families and children to provide gifts and other holiday cheer by the Blue Santa Team. That even includes a grocery gift card to buy dinner for the entire family. The packages are delivered right before Christmas by the blue-clad Santa Clause with a trailer full of gifts, accompanied by other officers and volunteers. Last year the team helped 19 families with 56 kids, as well as 14 kids staying at one safe place and 5 kids in the Mercy Hospital Pediatrics Ward. Also made their annual stops at one safe place and the Mercy Medical Center Pediatric Ward. If they get enough donations, they also give candy-filled stockings and stuffed animals to almost any kid they happen to meet along the way. This Saturday from 8 to Noon, officers will be collecting new unwrapped toys during a drive-through event at Redding City Hall. Monetary donations to the Operation Blue Santa Program can be made at reddingpeaceofficers.org.
-Steve Gibson