Chelmsford PD Holding Annual Fill-A-Cruiser Event For Toys For Tots

CHELMSFORD, MA — The Chelmsford Police Department has announced details of its 10th annual Fill-A-Cruiser event to benefit Toys for Tots.

The event, which features community members donating toys, takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Walmart, located at 66 Parkhurst Rd. Best Fitness and the Chelmsford Police Athletic League will be providing free hot chocolate during the event.

The department is requesting unwrapped —no wrapping paper — gifts for children ages infant to 16. The gifts then will be donated to Toys for Tots, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

"I'm pleased that our department has made a tradition of collecting toys for children in need for a decade now," Chelmsford Police Chief James Spinney said. "I want to thank Sgt. (Stephen) Fredericks for his tireless work organizing this event each year, and I want to thank the Chelmsford community for its continued generosity."

After collecting just over 3,000 toys in 2021, the Chelmsford PD has said it hopes to up that number to 3,500 this year.

People unable to make it to the Fill-A-Cruiser event still can contribute to the cause by donating toys at the Chelmsford Police Department, located at 2 Olde North Road.

Anyone wishing to make larger donations can contact Sgt. Fredricks directly at sfredricks@chelmsfordma.gov to arrange a drop-off.

Since 1947, Toys for Tots has distributed 627 million toys and supported 281 million children, according to the organization.