COLORADO SPRINGS – The Colorado Springs Police Department has announced the kick-off to their Annual Holiday Gift Drive in partnership with Teens with Promise.
The department has participated in 29 previous toy/gift drives, and for the last 10 years has collaborated with Teens with Promise to assist youths over the age of 12 who may be forgotten during this time of year.
CSPD will begin accepting gifts on November 17th and will continue through December 9th. Collection boxes will be placed in the lobby of the Police Operations Center and at each patrol division. They will also be inside every 7-Eleven in the City of Colorado Springs.
New and unwrapped gifts will be accepted any time day or night.
CSPD will host a Coffe with a Cop meeting in conjunction with the gift drive on November 17th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the 7-Eleven located at 3502 N. Academy Blvd.
Along with Teens with Promise, CSPD will also host a day of family-fun activities and gift drive on December 1st from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot at 5775 N. Academy Blvd. This event will include a visit from Santa, as well as games and free prizes.
Teens with Promise is a local non-profit dedicated to helping disadvantaged teens build resiliency and positive self-esteem. Gifts needed include CD players, MP3 players, art supplies, electronics, gift cards, makeup, hair accessories, hoodies, and jeans. Teens with Promise created the Holiday Gift Drive after noting that many local agencies provide gifts for younger children, but very few collect gifts for kids over age 12.
CSPD said that through their daily work routine, officers will be identifying families who may not have the resources to provide gifts for their children.
Along with Santa, CSPD officers and cadets will deliver the donated gifts to children on December 15th.
