OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department’s Holiday Food and Toy Drive once again proved to be a huge success with hundreds served by the annual charitable giving event.
This year, the OCPD partnered with the Santa House, Inc. for its annual holiday food and toy drive. The OCPD served as a drop-off and distribution point and the Santa House served as the facilitator to get the food and toys distributed to families in need in the resort and across Worcester County.
Last Wednesday, the OCPD gave food, toys and clothes to over 50 families and the Santa House served a combined total of 500 families through three distribution points including the OCPD, the Showell Fire Department and the Santa House warehouse in Snow Hill.
“The community we live in is a very benevolent one and it was extraordinary to witness the giving spirit during the holiday season,” said OCPD Chief Ross Buzzuro this week. “Partnering with the Santa House was a great idea and we hope to continue this partnership in the future. We were able to serve the families of Ocean City as well as throughout Worcester County.”
Several Ocean City businesses and organizations contributed to the success of the food and toy drive. Contributions were made by the Toys for Tommy campaign, named in honor of OCPD Officer Tommy Geoghegan who perished in a plane crash off the coast of the resort this summer, the Delmarva Condominium Managers Association, Atlantic Physical Therapy, the Ocean City Parrotheads, Fager’s Island, Caine Woods Association, Ladies Hibernians, and many other who donated directly to the Santa House.
“We would also like to thank all of the community members who dropped off toys and donations throughout the holiday season,” the OCPD said in a release this week. “Thanks to all of these donations, families all over Worcester County will have a joyous holiday season and children will have a gift to open Christmas morning. The OCPD would like to thank each and every one of you.”