PORT ORANGE, Fla. – For years, the Port Orange Police Department has been helping families who need a little lift around the holidays.
It started with a toy drive through the Victim Advocate Department but now, the entire community gets involved.
Dozens of volunteers showed up early at The Pavilion at Port Orange shopping plaza. An empty storefront served as the distribution point for the annual Cops For Christmas toy drive.
Hot Wheels, Barbies, board games and bicycles were stacked shoulder-high. There was barely room to walk between tables filled with toys.
Organizer Odetta Horruitner looked on as people took advantage of any flat surface to wrap gifts.
“Everybody is having a great time. The purpose is to give back,” Horruitner said. “It’s joy, honestly. It’s joy to my heart and brings tears to my eyes.”
Horruitner, victim advocate coordinator for the Port Orange Police Department, said the toy drive started at least 20 years ago with the Victim Advocate department.
“Whether it was victims of crime, domestic violence, maybe fraud or a house fire, we wanted to make sure families had a Christmas,” Horruitner said.
Over the years, the entire police department joined in, combining the Shop with a Cop program and the nonprofit Spouses Backing the Blue. Now, toy donations go toward the entire community. Organizers work with local schools to identify needy families.
The community donates toys through drop boxes placed around the city.
Port Orange Police officer Wayne Jean said last year they were able to help 400 local kids living in Port Orange and South Daytona.
“The spirit of Christmas is in Port Orange,” Jean said. “We couldn’t do it without the volunteers and the community coming together.”
Volunteers like Maricor James. James came with other members of her boxing club. The group laughed and shared stories as they found creative ways to wrap gifts that didn’t come with a box.
“I guess it doesn’t matter how you wrap it, what matters is when they open it, right?” James said with a laugh as she struggled to wrap a pair of shoes.
Horruitner said the need this year may be greater than ever.
“We just had Hurricane Milton come through and right now, when I checked my phone messages, I had 10 more people that I need to add to the list.”
Horruitner said those voicemails often mention the economy as playing a factor.
“Some have lost their job due to the hurricane or layoffs, and they are not sure how they’re going to get a small meal or just presents for their children.”
Jessica LaPeters was volunteering from nearby Thrive Community Church.
“I think it’s different because we know that these kids are all local. Everybody who is in this room, even though you don’t know who the kid is, I bet you’ve run into the family. You’ve run into them at school, the park or the beach,” LaPeters said.
Port Orange Chief of Police Manuel Marino said that’s what makes this drive special.
“It’s our residents, our citizens, our businesses. Our officers may have been on a call that caused whatever situation that family is dealing with. A lot of times the officer will come back and say, ‘hey that family needs help.’ That connection makes it special.”
Officer Jean looked around and reflected on his childhood growing up in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
“I experienced the same things a lot of these families experienced. We didn’t know where our next meal was coming from. We grew up very, very poor,” Jean said. “So it’s very dear to my heart. When I wake up Christmas morning, I don’t need anything. The joy knowing that hundreds of kids are getting toys, that’s all I need.”
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