With Christmas Day around the corner, Toys for Tots is accepting toys and donations to benefit children in need in Warren County.

“This was our biggest toy drive last year,” Toys for Tots coordinator Janel Doyle said at the program’s Hand It To A Hero toy drive Saturday. Doyle said the drive collected $2,000 and 400 toys last year.

Anyone interested in donating toys for the program can drop them off at the Bowling Green Fire Department at 701 E. 7th Ave. or at any Walgreens location in Bowling Green.

Throughout the morning and into the afternoon Saturday, local law enforcement agencies and representatives of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve stood outside the Walmart on Campbell Lane and collected donations.

Among them was Officer Tim Gray with the Western Kentucky University Police Department, which was a newcomer to the third annual Hand It To A Hero toy drive.

“People see us around but don’t know a whole lot,” he said, adding the program’s mission aligns with his department’s commitment to public service. “We wanted to be out in the community.”

For Gray, helping out with the drive presented an opportunity to network with other departments and build cooperation. It was also beneficial for kids and families who might only see a police officer on the worst day of their lives.

“It helps young people and families see law enforcement in a positive light,” he said, adding the drive presents “an opportunity to instill some life into people” who are less fortunate.

Other contributing law enforcement agencies included the Bowling Green Fire Department, Bowling Green Police Department, Warren County Regional Jail, Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police.

Donations will be collected up to Dec. 15th. Donations are distributed on the first three Saturdays in December and go to children up to 12 years old. To participate, families need a birth certificate and photo I.D.

Last year, Doyle said a father walked for two miles to pick up his children’s gifts.

“That was going to be his kid’s only Christmas,” gifts, she said, adding the man also received donations from the program as a child.

“You can tell that the families are really appreciative and in need,” Doyle said.

Sgt. Ronald Renner of the Bowling Green Fire Department said participating in the program complements the department’s mission.

“This just fits right into our beliefs … what we do as firemen,” he said.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Caraway of the U.S. Marine Corps said “no kid should ever wake up without an actual present,” on Christmas Day and that the drive is meant to prevent that.

He encouraged anyone who needs donations or knows someone who does to call Toys for Tots at 270-562-0518.