Jackson officers distribute toys to struggling families

Police officers often deal with people on the worst day of their lives, Jackson Police Department K-9 officer Cody Polley said.

But when the Jackson Police Department gave about $12,000 worth of toys and clothes to needy families within the Jackson School District on Friday, recipients cried tears of joy.

Police chief James Humphries' administrative assistant, Linda Roberts, said it's one of the department's favorite days of the year.

"It's great to have that positive interaction," Polley said. "For us, it's all about the children. We want to help provide the children with a good Christmas."

This year was the department's 15th annual toy drive for children 12 and younger. With donations from Jackson banks -- The Bank of Missouri, Regions Bank, Capaha Bank, First State Community Bank, Wood Huston, People's Bank and U.S. Bank -- the department raised more than $12,000 for the second time in three years.

Jackson Police Capt. Scott Eakers fills a toy order from the department's annual toy drive Friday at the Jackson Elks Lodge. (Fred Lynch)

At Jackson Elks Lodge 2652, several tables were filled with toys, with one entirely with Tonka trucks and Matchbox cars. Organizer and communications officer Rachel Coleman said about 75 percent of the toys were bought and the remainder were ones donated by residents into any one of the large boxes posted around town. One woman decided children in town needed books, and she donated three boxes of new books from Barnes & Noble.

"The community really needs to see this," Humphries said, "because without them, this wouldn't be possible."

Curtis Holt of Oak Ridge left the Elks Lodge with four bags of toys that included popular items from the "Frozen" and "Star Wars" films and a bracelet maker. Holt has several children, including a baby, at home. Holt also recently finished treatment at Gibson Recovery Center for methamphetamine addiction. He once owned a home in Doniphan, Missouri, but he slept on a bike trail in Cape Girardeau earlier this year.

"It was the most difficult thing I've ever done," Holt said of going through treatment.

Holt's wife also has suffered from epileptic seizures.

"It means everything," Holt said of the toy donations. "We are blessed."

Corinne White walked out with bags that included a new game of Connect 4, Nerf toys and lightsabers for her three children age 12, 11 and 10.

"They're going to be happy," she said. "It's great what (the police are) doing to help out."

White has been on disability because of severe back pain. She recently began working part time at the Smoke Shop, but she cannot do any lifting, and standing for any lengthy period is stressful.

Tabatha Bain took a short break from being in the hospital with her 6-week-old child to pick up a few bags of toys, including books and board games for her 10- and 8-year-old children. Bain has been unable to work for the past two months, but she was a certified nurse's assistant at the Missouri Veterans Home. Her newborn was diagnosed with pulmonary stenosis and will need surgery -- a frightening prospect for Bain.

"It's going to help us a lot," Bain said of the donation. "There was no money for us to buy Christmas."

The department also is helping two families with clothes and other simple supplies during the holiday season.

"One family, the father came up here for a job, and then became medically ill," Coleman said. "The wife was a full-time caretaker. They lost everything."

Coleman said she will sometimes enlist her young children to help pick toys for children of similar ages. She said it made her family appreciate the things they have during the holiday season.

"They understand not everybody has what they have," she said.

This year has been a difficult one for Coleman and her husband, Jason. In April, Jason was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, and he then was fired from his job. With help from co-workers in the department -- and Jason's good insurance -- Coleman still feels her family is fortunate and should give back to the community.

"We're blessed that we've been able to get through that," she said.

bkleine@semissourian.com

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