Stuff a Cruiser Friday to Give CCMC Kids a Gift for the Holidays

A police car will serve the role of ramshackled sleigh Friday as Avon police collect toys for Connecticut Children's Medical Center kids in the department's 12th annual Stuff a Cruiser drive.

Last year, Avon collected about 1,500 toys.

"Not only are we helping kids in our community, we’re helping kids in the state and it could even be a family member’s kid that we’re helping," Avon Police Lt. Kelly Walsh, spokesperson for the Avon Police Department, said.

Members of the Avon Police Association will be stationed outside the Avon Walmart on Route 44 from 4 a.m. to be there while the Black Friday crowd is circulating through the store the day after Thanksgiving. The drive lasts until 4 p.m.

"The toys collected are distributed to the kids who will be cared for at the Medical Center during the holidays and throughout the year," a press release about the toy drive stated. "We are asking for new and unused toys and/or donations."

For a list of suggested toys, click on the link provided.

Many other police departments and state police often do separate Stuff a Cruiser toy drives.

Avon police are also participating in several fundraisers for Special Olympics between now and mid-December.

Avon Police Raise Money for Special Olympics

• Nov. 24: Police officers will be wrapping books for Barnes & Nobles customers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Shoppes at Farmington Valley.

• Nov. 25: Barnes & Nobles Holiday Book Wrap from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Dec. 3: Tip a Cop at Bertucci's in Avon Marketplace from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Any tips made as donations above what customers would normally tip their waiters will benefit the Special Olympics.

• Dec. 10: Bertucci's Tip a Cop from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.