By Tina Pappas

This holiday’s season of giving is in full swing thanks to the Little Falls Police Department’s (LFPD) annual Holiday Toy Drive to benefit St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson.

Back again this year after last year’s hiatus due to the pandemic, the LFPD has amassed a large collection of toys, according to organizer Cpl. Jon Vanak.

“It’s great to have back this annual toy collection this year and we appreciate the large amount of donations we’re received,” said Vanak. “We currently have several hundred toys that we are storing for delivery to St. Joe’s this week.”

The toy drive’s primary drop-off location was at the Little Falls Police Department, located at 225 Main Avenue. Passaic Valley High School and School No. 1 assisted with the collection.

“They were both onboard with the toy drive, which was great,” he explained, adding that P.B.A. Local 346 held their Pancake Breakfast at Passaic Valley High School’s cafeteria on Dec.11, where more toys were collected.

“It seems that the collection gets bigger every year, which we’re happy about,” Vanak further added. “It’s something we’re hoping to continue and we look forward to dropping them off to St. Joe’s  this week.”

 P.B.A. Local 346 President Shaun O’Brien said the PBA Pancake Breakfast was also a huge success this year.

“We had a good turnout for the first year back since the pandemic,” O’Brien said. “We look forward to it every year in order to give back to our community. It’s for anyone who’d like to come in and have a free breakfast. They’re also invited to bring their children to meet Santa.”

O’Brien added there were approximately 300 breakfast plates made because organizers wanted to ensure they wouldn’t run out of food.

 “We always try to make sure we have enough food each year we hold the event,” he explained. “We have P.B.A. members working back in the kitchen and handing out plates of food in the main cafeteria of the high school.”

Vanak and O’Brien both said they look forward to running the events again next year.

“They’re really worthwhile,” Vanak said. “We still have toy donations coming in to us.”

Photo courtesy of Chris Vancheri