Holiday time means the return of Blue Santa among Valley police officers.

The 37th Annual 911 Toy Drive/Blue Santa Days is open to any sworn officer wishing to participate by adopting one or two families. The officer then collects toys the public can donate in order to deliver them to families in need during the holidays.

Approximately 85% of toys come from local families donating. As of Dec. 16, the program includes almost 300 participating officers statewide, each of whom “adopts” one or two families with an average of five children per household.

Residents are encouraged to support the Blue Santa program by donating new, unwrapped toys. Click here for a list of more than 40 Valley-wide locations open to toy donation drop-offs.

Officers in the Blue Santa program will then pick up the donated toys at one of three locations:

• In Central Phoenix, at Courtesy Chevrolet, 1233 E. Camelback Road, from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Dec. 20.
• In the East Valley, at Courtesy Chrysler Dodge RAM of Superstition Springs, 6130 E. Auto Park Drive, in Mesa, from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 21.
• In the West Valley, at Toy Drive Warehouse at S&K Oil Sales, 5365 N. 51st Ave., Suite 102, in Glendale, from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 22.

W. Steven Martin established the 911 Toy Drive to provide support for public safety personnel, allowing them to get toys into the hands of children and help create a positive interaction that will define that child’s attitude toward officers.

Residents who can’t make it to a drop-off location and need their donations picked up should email w.stevenmartin@cox.net

Financial donations to the 911 Toy Drive can also be made by clicking here.