Chapel Hill Review

Town of Hillsborough issued the following announcement on Dec. 11.

Hillsborough police are inviting children from newborn to age 13 to a holiday wonderland this Thursday, Dec. 17.

Thanks to generous donations so far, the Police Department will be able to offer a drive-through no-contact event for children from 6 to 8 p.m. outside the police substation, 501 Rainey Ave., in the Fairview community.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will take the place of Santa and Mrs. Claus’s annual visit to the main police station, where the Clauses typically hear children’s wishes in the lobby.

For this year’s event, families will be able to drive through the Police Department’s holiday wonderland and then stop at Santa’s toy shop for kids to pick out a toy from their vehicle. Santa will wave and wish kids happy holidays as their family vehicles enter the wonderland. Children must be present in the vehicle to receive a gift.

The Police Department’s holiday lights will be on display starting Dec. 17 through Christmas night at the substation in the Fairview community.

Safety measures

To keep the event safe for everyone, the following safety measures must be taken by participants:

• No walk-up participation will be allowed.
• Everyone inside a vehicle must wear a mask and not exit the vehicle.
• When reaching Santa’s toy station, only the driver’s window may be lowered to communicate with Santa’s elves.
• Once the gift requests have been given, the driver will move the vehicle forward to Santa’s loading station and open the trunk, where an elf will deposit the requested gifts.

Santa’s elves will be wearing personal protective equipment. All toys will be wiped down and placed in the trunks of vehicles.

Toy guidelines

The Police Department will continue to accept donations through noon Dec. 17. If you’re donating gifts for children:

• Gifts should be new, unwrapped and appropriate for newborns to children up to age 13.
• Especially needed will be gifts for ages 10-13 as well as dolls, balls, games and toys for toddlers.
• No toy weapons or candy should be donated.

How to donate

Donations to the toy drive may be made in several ways:

• Drop off toys at the main station, 127 N. Churton St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays and up until noon on Dec. 17, the final day for donations. Large green bins marked for the toy drive will be available outside the station’s front doors.
• Shop online and have toys delivered to the main station, Hillsborough Police Department, Attn: Toy Drive, 127 N. Churton St., Hillsborough, NC 27278.
• Make a monetary donation online through the town’s payments and donations site.

For more information, contact Senior Administrative Support Specialist Danielle King by phone at 919-296-9520 or by email using the Police Administrative Division’s contact form. Place “Toy Drive” in the subject.

Original source: https://www.hillsboroughnc.gov/news/news-releases/2020/12/11/872/police-to-offer-holiday-wonderland-for-kids-on-dec-17.html