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The Windsor Town Council voted 6-0 on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to adopt a resolution appropriating to the General Fund of the town’s operating budget a total of $4,600 in donations so that the majority of that amount could be used to purchase toys for the Windsor Police Department’s annual toy drive.

“Each year the amount of support provided to the WPD Toy Drive never ceases to amaze me,” WPD Chief Rodney “Dan” Riddle said. “We live in a wonderful and generous community that answers the call to assist the less fortunate at the holidays each year without hesitation.”

He noted that of the donated funds, $4,000 was spent on toys at Walmart on Wednesday, Dec. 11, and $600 was donated to Southern States to assist elderly customers in Windsor with heating oil bills.

He offered some more specific insight into where the $4,600 in donations came from.

“WPD receives funding from multiple private sources that include civic organizations like the Lions Club, businesses like El Rodeo (Mexican Restaurant) and other private and commercial donors who choose to remain anonymous,” he said. “In addition, Toys for Tots in Smithfield donated over 400 toys to WPD and six bicycles. 

“WPD would like to express its sincere thanks to Toys for Tots, especially Elizabeth Moose who has worked with us over the years to help ensure we have enough toys on hand to provide our distribution partner,” he added.

Riddle noted that Community Harvest Outreach, a Windsor-based nonprofit organization, handles the distribution of the toys through its Lots of Toys for Tots event, and local children are the chief recipients.

“CHO focuses its efforts in Windsor and throughout southern and central Isle of Wight County,” he said.

Providing an overview of the WPD’s toy drive process, Riddle said his department begins reaching out to its donor network in early November to solicit cash donations, obtain a head count and organize pick-up and drop-off dates. 

“The drive generally concludes the first week of December, with shopping and toy pick-up occurring in the second week of December,” he said. “This allows us to drop off to our partners at Community Harvest Outreach in time for their distribution event.”