Police stuff buses with donated toys
A school bus parked outside Target was stuffed with toys on Dec. 15 for the 8th Annual Fill the Bus Toy Drive.
The event, co-sponsored by the Dartmouth Police Department, Tremblay’s Bus, the New Bedford 3rd Court Probation Dept. and Target, began at 9 a.m. with a dozen volunteers distributing candy canes and spreading the word about the toy drive. Donations poured in not long after.
This is the fourth year the drive has been held at the Dartmouth Target, and each year it seems to grow. Last year, three buses were filled.
Around 1:30 p.m., the first bus was pulling away after being stuffed with nine bikes and hundreds of other toys. Patty Machado and Candi Durant, both employees of Tremblay’s Bus, were busy on board putting the toys into big bags for transport.
“I love it,” said Durant, who has participated for the past five years. “To me, it’s the best thing ever.”
Durant and Machado said they especially love seeing kids get involved, who always donate with a big smile on their faces.
Neveah Hefner, 6, climbed on board with a hair bow kit to donate.
“That looks like a hundred thousand!” she exclaimed, marvelling at the toys that filled each row of seats.
Ryan Reis, a Dartmouth Police officer, said he was grateful for the nice weather and that his schedule allowed him to participate.
“It’s my day off, nothing to do, there’s nowhere I’d rather be,” Reis said. “Whatever we can do is great.”
Reis also noted that everyone with the drive is grateful for all the donations, no matter how big or small, especially because the holiday season is often a difficult one financially.
Kenny Macedo, who has volunteered with the drive before, said one man passed him at the store exit with a cart piled high with bikes and other toys. Macedo assumed the man was shopping for his own family and was shocked when the man told him all the toys were for the drive.
Maria Melo, another repeat volunteer, said her favorite part of the drive is seeing the community come together.