WSU Police Chief Tony Casciano
WESTFIELD- The Westfield State University Public Safety department will be holding its 18th annual Stuff a Cruiser toy drive next week on the campus green.
The drive, which takes place on December 12th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., will collect toys from the campus community and fill up a police cruiser with the donations. All donations will be given to the New Beginnings domestic violence shelter run by the Westfield YWCA.
“This has been very successful over the years,” said WSU Public Safety Chief Tony Casciano, “We usually get between three and four thousand dollars’ worth of donations.”
Westfield State University faculty member Michael Ortiz pushes a cart full of toys to a waiting university police car as part of a previous year’s Stuff A Cruiser gift drive to benefit the New Beginnings Shelter for victims of domestic abuse. (WNG file photo)
The program first started when Casciano took note of other police departments doing similar drives as well as the Marines doing their annual Toys for Tots program. Casciano mentioned the idea to then-Chief Paul Scannell, who gave his approval. This year, the drive will be run by Public Safety Lieutenant Bernie St. George.
“We’re not just looking for donations of toys, we have to remember the Moms too,” said Casciano, “We will take gloves, sweaters and toiletries as well. When the families go to the shelters, they will be taken out of their house with nothing.”
Despite the name of the drive, Chief Casciano estimates that the annual donations typically fill three to four cruisers. Some people drop toys off at the Public Safety headquarters as well. When New Beginnings comes to pick up the toys, they will arrive in a larger van to fit all the donations in. Students of WSU who donate will be entered into a random drawing to win prizes.
“It’s a community thing for the university,” said Casciano, “just something small to make sure that come Christmas time, everyone has something.”
