Rye Police Show Christmas Spirit

While many children in Westchester County eagerly wait to unwrap all the presents stacked underneath the Christmas tree, some kids aren't so fortunate.

This year, the Rye Police Association showed its charitable holiday spirit by making sure those kids don't go without.

The Association collaborated with the Marine Corps Reserve to collect donations for the Reserve's "Toys for Tots" program. 

Rye Police organized two drop-off centers for toy donations, one at its headquarters and the other at Rye City Hall. It was the second year the police association collected donations for the program.

"It's definitely a charity that everyone seems to respond positively to," said Officer David Casale, a member of the police association. 

"There was always a connection to Toys for Tots. This is such a worthwhile cause and what better way to help kids during the holiday season?" said Officer Michael Kenny, a Rye Police Officer and former Marine who spearheaded the effort. 

While the police association accepted all toy donations, they were particularly looking for an increase in gifts for 13-18 year olds, Kenny said.

That age group tends to be overlooked because it is sometimes easier to buy a toy for a younger child than to find a Christmas gift for a teenager, Kenny said.

Luckily, an anonymous donor dropped off a brand new PlayStation 3 game console, a gift that retails for more than $300.

Kenny said the gift would go to a deserving family in Yonkers  after they transition from a homeless shelter into their own home. 

The police association collected seven large boxes full of toys this year. Last year, it collected more than $2,000 worth of Christmas gifts. Both Kenny and Casale expect to surpass that figure this year.

In addition to "Toys for Tots," the police association also held a blood drive last Friday, a joint effort with the New York Blood Center.  

The Rye Fire Department also participated in the effort by setting up  about seven stations to collect blood on the second floor of its firehouse on Locust Avenue. More than 50 people donated.

Kenny said both the blood  and toy drives are part of the police association's many charitable missions. Members also have collected donations for Earthquake Relief in China, Hurricane Katrina and sponsored Rye Little League and  the Rye softball league in recent years.

"Our function here at the police department isn't just writing tickets and making arrests," Kenny said. "We really do have a strong philosophy of community policing, and reaching out to people not just in the city of Rye, but throughout all of Westchester County."