Police/Fire

Westfield Police Cadets looking for toys

WESTFIELD–The Westfield Police Cadets will be holding a toy drive this Sunday to help families in need.

The toy drive, which is in its second year, will occur Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be at the Walmart on Springfield Road. The Westfield Police Cadets, an all-volunteer group of youths 14 to 20 years old, will be on hand to oversee the event, collecting toys and other items for families in need. Westfield Police Department will also be on hand as sponsors for the event and the cadets.

Cadets from last year's toy drive (photo provided by Westfield Police Department)

Cadets from last year’s toy drive (photo provided by Westfield Police Department)

Westfield Police detective Rick Mazza, who oversees the cadets along with Westfield Police officer Christopher Coach, said that while there isn’t a limit to how much they receive, the minimum they want is enough to fill three police vehicles–two SUVs and one Ford Crown Victoria–with toys.

“We are looking to stuff as much as we can into each one of those vehicles,” Mazza said. “I hope we have to call the station for more vehicles.”

Mazza said that in addition to toys, people are urged to bring diapers, baby wipes, money and even gift cards to the event.

“People don’t think to give gift cards but they work great,” Mazza said. “It gets you your every day items, which frees up money for other items.”

Mazza also said that gift cards are great gifts for older children, for which the department has difficulty finding gifts.

Any gifts that are brought the police request that they are unwrapped and preferably unused.

The families that the cadets and police are providing for are from a variety of sources, including the Westfield school system, who contacted the department with a list of children in need. The Westfield Boys and Girls Club, YMCA and local churches were other places where families in need were found.

The Westfield Police Cadet program is an all-volunteer program that provides youths, ages 14 to 20, with the ability to learn more about policing and what a career in law enforcement may entail. In addition to the toy drive, the cadets have been seen volunteering their time at local concerts, parades and the Babe Ruth World Series.

“We have a diverse group of kids in our program–foster kids, kids from Springfield, Agawam, West Springfield, Westfield,” Coach said. “It’s great to see them give back and to show them that there’s a bigger need than they see.”

Coach said that the 23 cadets currently in the program have provided around 1,600 man hours this year, all volunteer.

If you know a child interested in joining or would like to know more information, you can contact the Westfield Police Cadet program on Facebook, or stop by their meetings every Monday night at the Westfield Police Station from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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