Warwick Police traditionally run food and toy drives at this time of year, but never has either drive received such an outpouring.

Police met their goal of filling a shipping container that was set up outside headquarters with toys. In fact, it reached the point where donations had to be squeezed in. Police received an initial donation of several pallets of toys that filled about a third of the container. As the drive gained news coverage and officers held fill-the-cruiser collections outside stores, people generously responded. There were gifts of electronic devices, bicycles and even golf clubs. Through connections with teachers and school principals, police learned of families that could use the help.

Delivery of the toys started this week with one of the first stops being the Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs and the club’s Christmas store. It’s a place where parents can pick out toys for their family at no cost.

Capt. Michael Lima, who heads the department’s community services division that ran the drives, said toys are also going to Westbay Community Action.

Word went out to all the city’s churches and St. Rita and St. Peter churches will pick up toys for distribution. Toys will also go to Family Services of Rhode Island and Parent Support Network of Rhode Island.

Lima explained community service officers received requests and that families will be stopping by the station to collect toys. He anticipates there will be enough toys for some to go to agencies serving those in need outside the city.

Lima said monetary donations to both the food and toy drive topped $9,000. Some of those funds were used to buy toys in addition to sporting goods and gifts for teenage boys and girls.

Given the need witnessed when police and their families delivered food to the Westbay Community Action Marketplace, Lima said $2,000 is being used to buy hams to be given out by Westbay. Lima said the need has been especially acute during the pandemic and the community’s generosity never greater.

He said the department would launch its coat drive on the first of the New Year. (Text and photos by John Howell)