West Deer police have seen the bad in people, but they’ve also seen the good. Especially during the holiday season.

They’re hoping residents will continue to bring Christmas cheer and joy to those less fortunate by donating to the police department’s annual toy collection drive.

Now in its 24th year, the toy drive is directed at Deer Lakes School District families who may not be able to afford to celebrate Christmas.

Last year, it distributed roughly 1,100 gifts between toys and winter clothing to needy families.

“It’s just remarkable how much people will donate at times like this,” police Chief Jon Lape said.

Lape started the program more than 20 years ago. It’s open to children between the ages of 1 and 14.

The first year, officers gave refurbished bicycles to about 40 children. Officers asked people donate their used bicycles, and they refurbished them.

That ended up being a lot of work. So the next year, the department decided to do a toy drive.

The tradition stuck.

“The first year, I think we had 10 families and probably about 30-some children,” Lape said. “That’s increased over the years as we’ve been doing it.”

Lape said the department cannot provide gifts to residents without their permission. They must register for the gifts.

Registration will start Monday, Nov. 9.

People who would like to register or who have questions can email toys forchildren@westdeertownship.com.

This year the department is partnering with Cub Scout Pack 965, which will go around to neighborhoods to collect toy donations.

“They go through West Deer Township, to the housing plans, and drop off an empty garbage bag and a little note that says what it’s for and what the program’s about,” Lape said of the Cub Scouts. “They put toys in there, and the Scouts will go back the following week and pick them up.”

The bags will be dropped off Saturday, Nov. 14. The Scouts will go around to re-collect them on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Police ask any toys people donate be new and unwrapped.

If people don’t want to buy toys, they can make monetary donations. That money will be used to buy additional toys, winter clothing for the children and wrapping supplies.

Toys and toy collection bags also can be brought directly to the police department.

Once the toys are collected, a group of volunteers will wrap them at the West Deer EMS building, which is next to the police department.

Parents can pick the gifts up at the EMS building on Thursday, Dec. 17.

Mary Jayne Trocki is one of the gift wrapping volunteers.

She’s been helping with the toy drive for over 10 years as a way to give back to the community. It’s one of the highlights of her holiday season.

“I love doing it and definitely will be helping out this year,” Trocki said. “I do feel that more families are in need this year with the pandemic. It has affected so many. Every parent wants their children to have something special to open.”

Trocki said each gift and child are kept as a record for the following years.

“There is so much that goes on,” Trocki said. “Jon is amazing with the care and dedication he gives to this program.”

Lape is pleased the program has continued at the pace it has. He said he and his officers get excited about it every year.

“It just kept growing and growing and we just saw people that appreciated it, so there was no reason to stop it,” Lape said. “It’s for the kids.”