NYPD Santas deliver thousands of toys to city kids in need

Thousands of donated toys were organized in a de facto warehouse at JFK Airport before they were loaded onto flatbed trucks that the NYPD typically uses to transport parade barriers. The trucks then moved slowly from one community location to the next, with holiday music blasting from loudspeakers as officers delivered gifts to neighborhoods across the city.

Most of the toys were donated by the First Responders Children’s Foundation, the NYPD Police Foundation and Toys for Tots, an NYPD spokesman said. The event is described by police officials as the department’s annual city-wide sleigh ride, a phrase echoed by NYPD Assistant Commissioner Alden Foster when The Post spoke about the drive. He said the department works with community-based organizations throughout the city to identify families in real need of a holiday gift.

This is our annual city-wide sleigh ride that we do every year, Foster told The Post. We work with community-based organizations throughout the city to identify families who are really in need of a gift for the holidays.

One of the toy drive locations was St. Joseph`s School for the Deaf in the Bronx, where dozens of costumed officers handed out gifts at several sites across the borough and in Manhattan. Dozens of officers, some dressed as superheroes and Disney characters, distributed the gifts as part of a citywide route that emphasized accessibility and community engagement across all five boroughs. The gifts were then given out by volunteers and officers amid holiday music and a festive backdrop as the motorcade rolled through.

Jillian Crane, president and CEO of the First Responders Children’s Foundation, said her group provided about 15,000 toys in its sixth year partnering with the NYPD for the event. She described the moment the motorcade arrives with the gifts as transformative: The faces on these children as we drive up with the motorcade, they just look so happy, big smiles. Crane added that her foundation sponsors nearly 200 similar events nationwide at the same time, underscoring the nationwide reach of the program. It’s just magic. We want to deliver the trust.

The “sleigh ride” tradition was carried out by the NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau using flatbed trucks that typically transport traffic barriers for parades. The department emphasized that the toy drive would continue at pre-selected locations across all five boroughs through Monday as organizers aim to reach families who registered for assistance or were identified by partner groups in the weeks leading up to the holidays.

Crane noted that the effort is designed to be more than a one-off moment of giving. It is part of a broader strategy to connect police with communities in meaningful, ongoing ways and to remind families that public safety institutions are part of a network of support during times of hardship. She highlighted that the program’s impact extends beyond the toy handoffs to include ongoing partnerships with schools, shelters and community groups that help families navigate the holiday season.

The scale of this year’s operation reflects a growing collaboration between law enforcement and charitable organizations. By coordinating logistics, transportation and distribution, the NYPD hopes to streamline aid for families who might otherwise miss out on gifts for their children. The foundation and partner groups have described the effort as a powerful example of cross-sector cooperation, one that can be replicated in other cities and communities facing similar needs during the holidays.

The toy drive has earned praise from participants and observers who note the emotional impact of the outreach. Jillian Crane described the program as a bridge between the city’s public safety apparatus and the families it serves, and she said the event’s nationwide reach demonstrates a shared commitment to spreading joy during a difficult season. As the city moves deeper into the holiday period, organizers stressed that donations continue to be welcomed and that volunteer participation remains essential to sustaining the effort throughout the season.

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The partnership between the NYPD and philanthropic groups is designed to ensure that the gifts reach children who might otherwise go without during a season of increased need. With the Joint efforts of the department’s Community Affairs Bureau and volunteer organizations, the city aims to maintain momentum through Monday and extend holiday cheer across all five boroughs, bringing together residents, families and officers in a shared community experience.