Bentley College and Waltham Police brighten holidays
WALTHAM - Bentley College Police and Waltham Police officers are working hard to spread some holiday cheer to needy children through multiple toy drives this year.
Following a car accident earlier this month, Waltham Police Officer June Conway returned to active duty this week just in time to help children at the Chesterbrook Gardens housing complex.
Conway normally collects and provides toys to all children living in housing complexes across the city. On Dec. 1 Conway said she was struck by a car and her neck was injured. Conway still managed, however, to gather close to 100 toys for about 25 children living in the complex which she is giving out before Christmas.
"Normally we try to provide for kids through the whole city," she said. "I believe every child should have toys for Christmas ... I hope next year we have enough toys to give to every child in a development."
Conway has been running the toy drive for children living in housing complexes for close to four years now, partnering with members of the Bentley College Police Department.
This year, Bentley Police Sgt. David Sousa said he gave Conway a portion of toys he and a Bentley security officer collected through a toy drive on campus.
"I also do (a toy drive) with security officer Andy Lecolst. Basically this year is the sixth annual drive for us ... what we do is we collect toys from the Bentley community," Sousa said. "I give a portion to (the Department of Social Services) and I give another portion to the Greater Boston Catholic Charities Group ... those are basically the groups that we went to this year."
According to Sousa, the Greater Boston Catholic Charities Group contacted him through the college's campus ministry and asked for assistance.
"They have a total of 189 children that need help," Sousa said. "We've collected about 200 or 300 toys this year ... generally everything comes from within the Bentley community."
Sousa said taking part in toy drives is a way for Bentley employees to give back to the community.
"What we're trying to do is get people involved with helping the Waltham community, basically because Bentley is a part of Waltham," Sousa said.
Another toy drive that took place this week was that of the Bentley College facilities management team, a group of about 70 people that take care of the day-to-day responsibilities of running the campus.
On Wednesday, facilities worker Steve Szymaniak was busy stuffing action figures and stuffed animals into bags to be distributed to needy children. "It definitely makes you feel good giving to kids," he said. "Where I came from, you know what it's like not to get any thing for Christmas ... it makes you want to do a little extra."
What started as a small toy drive among some employees of the college has grown in participation each year. This week marked the fourth year Bentley workers have taken part in the drive. Most of the close to 100 toys collected came from the facilities workers.
"There was a toy drive here on campus so we decided to go off on our own and we decided to do a toy drive just for the facilities department," said Thomas Kane, director of facilities for the Bentley campus.
With the help of Waltham Police, who help the facilities workers find families in need of some holiday cheer, the crew gathers toys and games and delivers them right before the holidays.
The toys will be given to Mary's House, a shelter for families in a secret location in Waltham where 13 children from eight families will receive several gifts.
"The important thing to know is we as a group are going to give back to Waltham every year," said facilities worker Brenda Spencer. "It's for the kids this time of year."
Jeff Gilbride can be reached at 781-398-8005 or at jgilbrid@cnc.com
Posted by: Kilvinsky
I think this should motivate me to make an effort to get my department to try to do the same next year.
Sigh. We'll see what happens. Great story. What paper is it from? I love how they got the title right throughout the story. Terrific. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: fscpd907
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kilvinsky
What paper is it from?
Waltham Daily News Tribune
Posted by: RCPD33
Nice job Sgt. Dave from Bentley and also to the Waltham PD, WTG!
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