URI Police Department collects 3,000 toys for families at Hasbro Children’s Hospital

Detective Mark Brasil of the University of Rhode Island Police Department stands on Dec. 12 next to a police cruiser stuffed with toys that will be donated to local families and sick children at Hasbro Children's Hospital. The department held a two-day Stuff-A-Cruiser Holiday Toy Drive outside Walmart in North Kingstown, where shoppers donated more than 3,000 toys, enough to fill nine cruisers. / COURTESY URI POLICE MAJ. MICHAEL JAGODA
Detective Mark Brasil of the University of Rhode Island Police Department stands on Dec. 12 next to a police cruiser stuffed with toys that will be donated to local families and sick children at Hasbro Children's Hospital. The department held a two-day Stuff-A-Cruiser Holiday Toy Drive outside Walmart in North Kingstown, where shoppers donated more than 3,000 toys, enough to fill nine cruisers. / COURTESY URI POLICE MAJ. MICHAEL JAGODA

PROVIDENCE – The University of Rhode Island Police Department in mid-December filled nine cruisers – seven more than expected – with 3,000 toys for families at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
The department’s Stuff-A-Cruiser Holiday Toy Drive, held Dec. 12 and 13 outside Walmart in North Kingstown, yielded oversized stuffed animals, dolls, action figures and sports equipment, among other gifts.
The police department entered the weekend hoping to collect enough brand-new, unwrapped gifts to fill two police cruisers. Instead, the department came away with enough toys and gifts for families and children to fill nine SUV cruisers.
“We were hoping for the best, but we got so much more than we could have ever hoped,” said Officer Paul Hanrahan, who helped organize the drive.
The officers, most of whom donated their time off-duty to staff the event, set up in front of the store as gifts came pouring in.
“Some people arrived with presents, others went into the store, bought some and gave them to us as they came out,” Hanrahan said. “We didn’t solicit for any presents, but people came up and asked us what we were doing. We told them and many of them came out of the store with toys for us to give to the kids.”
Officer Debbie Sheldon, who staffed the event, added: “But that wasn’t the best part. The best was all the little kids who brought the gifts up to us. Seeing the smiles on their faces, knowing they’re helping other kids, was priceless.”
The police also collected donations to purchase Stop & Shop gift cards, so families in need can have a holiday meal or a week’s worth of groceries. One URI police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, donated $600 to help feed the families who need it.
The department is still accepting toys and monetary donations at the station at 85 Briar Lane on the South Kingstown campus.

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