BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
CLOSTER, N.J. —— It seemed like Santa’s workshop was recreated in Closter’s Fire House on Ruckman Road last week as scores of volunteer elves sorted through massive piles of toys and games – some up to 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide – during Bergen County’s 29th annual Police Benevolent Association toy drive.
The Knickerbocker Hook & Ladder Co. fire station on Ruckman Road was bulging Dec. 18 with carefully sorted piles of toys, games, puzzles, crafts, books and stuffed animals arranged for boys and girls from age 2 to 14, and even older teenagers too.
Retired Closter Police Sgt. Donald Nicoletti, toy drive founder and organizer, said that the annual toy drive “keeps growing and growing” and 53 municipal police departments – including Rockland County and Orangetown, N.Y. – contributed toys and donations that are picked up and delivered to ill or needy children in three area hospitals, as well as donated to dozens of local community and social service organizations that provide toys to kids.
Hundreds of police officers from Bergen County and volunteers sported sweat gear embroidered with SRT for “Santa’s Response Team,” an organization founded nearly three decades ago by PBA Local 233 to help provide toys to needy and ill children.
“People think it’s a SWAT team,” said Nicoletti. “They’re like, ‘Oh, you’re on SWAT team?’ No we’re Santa’s Response Team.”
Closter Police Officer Dan Hargrave has been helping out with the toy drive for five years. “This is what its all about for the kids. It puts a smile on kids’ faces. It’s crazy how many sick kids there actually are and how many deprived people there are,” he said. “[Police work is] not just about locking up bad guys, it’s about giving back.”
U.S. Army National Guard soldiers from Teaneck Armory loaded up three large military vehicles full of toys to be delivered to 300 needy military families.
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And what appeared to be a non-stop queue of vehicles entering and leaving the firehouse, such as pickups and vans from area agencies, were being filled with packages of toys and games to be delivered to needy children and teens.
Police officers accompany the delivery of toys to hospitals, including Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, Tomorrow’s Children’s Fund, and The Valley Hospital.
Mahwah Police Officer William Hunt, and his son, Brady, 10, were at the event. An officer for 19 years, Hunt said, “It’s important to give back to the community, especially in this day and age when we’re so under the microscope.”
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Hillsdale Sgt. Thomas Smith said the toy drive brings “joy and happiness. You see the kids when they get their prizes,” he noted. Added Detective Sgt. Adam Hampton: “The big thing for us is the great cooperation between the community partners and the schools, and our stores.”
U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and his daughter Ellie, 8, stood in awe of the massive piles of toys that filled the firehouse.
“It’s cool because a lot of people don’t have toys so we can get them holiday presents,” said his daughter when asked about the busy, noisy scene.
“I think it’s remarkable that law enforcement comes together every year to help others. As a dad and a congressman it warms your heart. No one should see Christmas morning and not have a present to open up…or on Hanukkah,” he said.
“It’s incredible how big it’s gotten,” said Gottheimer. “There’s no reason that we don’t double that number and I’m going to help.”
Gottheimer said he and his daughter had brought presents for each of the six piles of toys for all age groups.
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Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino – Emerson’s former police chief – said there were 25 officers on site assisting the efforts.
“It’s just a good feeling of knowing you’re doing something helping people less fortunate,” he said, noting the county officers collected 1,350 turkeys for distribution to homeless shelters and food banks at Thanksgiving.
Englewood Police Lt. Matt de la Rosa said the department of 81 officers has been involved since 2010.
“We fill a shipping container full of toys and we actually do the distribution with our fire department and school district,” said de la Rosa. He said they would be donating to about 100 kids in town at an holiday event on Dec. 21.
“I don’t think you could do anything nicer than to have a young kid or young child have something to open up on Christmas and something to look forward to and be happy about on Christmas. The fact that we can do that for these kids that don’t have as much. You can’t measure that,” said de la Rosa.
Cresskill Sgt. Jeremy Luciano said the department became involved with Santa’s Response Team in 2004. He said the 22 officers in Cresskill help by donating money for gift cards and solicit toy donations from businesses in town. He said one family in town donated five Xboxes for the toy drive.
“This morning we loaded two pickup trucks and three SUVs full with toys. They’re all somewhere in that pile of toys in there. We all come with the expectation every year to be able to give of ourselves.
“The best gift that there is is being able to give,” said Luciano. Told he had expressed the spirit of the season well, “There’s your headline,” he said with a laugh.
“It’s huge, every year it gets bigger and bigger,” said Patrick Colligan, state PBA president, who said he has attended the event for over four years.
“I had heard about this and it sounded impressive. When you pull up and realize how massive an event this is – it’s what cops and firemen do. This is what we do. We’re doing toy drives, food banks, and we’re baseball coaches and Eucharistic ministers.
“We are always in the community. It’s good to see the press came out to see and recognize hundreds of cops [volunteering] from around Bergen County,” said Colligan.
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Township of Washington Sgt. Michael Glock said local officers have been involved for 15 years.
“We probably had two-and-a- half-refrigerator boxes full. People are generous. They’re usually very generous,” said Glock. “It just makes you feel good. It’s the right thing to do. If it puts a smile on a kid’s face, it’s worth it,” he said.
“We put out big refrigerator boxes, all decorated, in eight local businesses,” said Westwood Police Officer Danielle Neuberger, an eight-year veteran. She said toy donation sites included borough hall, restaurants, gyms, and a racquet club.
“Knowing that we’re helping children, and able to give back to some kids. The ones that are at the hospital, just to walk in and see the smiles on kids’ faces and know that we care about them,” she said when asked why she volunteers.
“Every year it gets bigger. We’re really pleased to host it. So much cooperation between [law] enforcement agencies,” said Closter Mayor John Glidden.
“It’s an opportunity to give back to the community. There are a lot of disadvantaged kids in the county and we’re really glad to be able to support the disadvantaged kids,” he said.
“We’re going to keep doing it and try to keep growing it. We’ve really made it a regional thing. It’s grown from a small group of departments to 53 this year and continue to make sure everybody in town here really understands what this means,” said Glidden.
Kathy Goldrick, a 22-year volunteer and a police dispatcher, said she made the signs over the towering piles of toys that distinguish age/gender of each toy pile.
“Every year, it increases more and more,” she said of contributed toys. She said every organization that comes to pick up toys has a pre-arranged pickup time and lists of what types of toys are needed.
“The event has been such a success due to the dedication of all the police officers and volunteers that has helped to make this the success that it is,” said PBA Local 233 President Reggie Parsells.
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PBA Local 233, consisting of Northvale, Norwood, Harrington Park, and Closter, initiated the toy drive 29 years ago, said Parsells.
Food vendors helping to feed hundreds of police and fire officers and volunteers who helped collect the toys included Callahan’s, Rosie’s Empanadas, Sanducci’s Ristorante, Waffle Waffle, and Mr. Cupcakes.
Chef Bob Maurer of Chef Bob’s Catering, Closter, began catering a free buffet breakfast at the event six years ago and served about 200 hungry volunteers this year.
Photos courtesy Murray Bass