File Photo
Riverside High School boys basketball players traditionally volunteer to help with the Cops for Tots toy distribution.
The Cops for Tots program started in 1988 when officers with the GPD bought and delivered presents to one family in the Sunnyside Community. Every year since, the GPD has partnered with the Greer community in providing Christmas presents to underprivileged children so that no child is left without presents on Christmas Day.
More than 300 children in the greater Greer area were provided presents by the GPD in 2016.
“The Cops for Tots program has become a fun and important annual event to support children in our community,” Lt. Patrick Fortenberry said. “Thanks to the generosity of the many community members and businesses who make it successful, we are able to brighten the lives of many children and start to build a relationship with
The community can assist Greer police by providing monetary donations and/or new unwrapped presents that can be dropped off at the Greer Police Department.
The monetary donations are tax deductible and checks should be made out to the “Greer Cops for Tots” program.
The applications for participants in the program will be available from Nov. 20 – Dec. 1 at the front desk in the Greer Police Department’s lobby.