Sayonara Community Center families and members are of good cheer and in the good company of Citrus Heights police, councilmembers and other civic leaders during the holiday toy drop off. Photo courtesy of CHPD

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - With lights flashings and sirens blaring, a convoy of more than a dozen police vehicles from the Citrus Heights Police Department descended on the Sayonara Community Center on Sayonara Drive for its annual Christmas toy drop-off event. On Thursday afternoon December 21, members of the CHPD delivered hundreds of toys and stuffed animals to children in front of the Center. City Manager Ash Feeney, Mayor Bret Daniels, Council Member Tim Schaefer, Council Member Porsche Middleton, Police Chief Alex Turcotte, Commander Jason Russo, Commander Kris Frey and other CHPD personnel joined in the fun.

Police and City personnel met and mingled with Sayonara children, parents and neighbors during the delivery.

A video overview of the event, which makes you feel as you were there, can be seen on the Citrus Heights Police Department social media channel. https://youtu.be/uGAytNOA6s4?feature=shared

In addition to the toy delivery at Sayonara, over two dozen families were adopted as part of Operation Holiday Cheer with presents delivered to them. Additionally, 20 children participated in the annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ event at Target on December 7, in collaboration with the Citrus Heights Police Activities League (PAL).

Some of the service groups and other contributors to Operation Holiday Cheer were Citrus Heights Soroptimist, Stones Casino, Citrus Heights Grocery Outlet, Grand Oaks Bingo Hall, Citrus Heights PAL, and many more!

Source: Larissa Aguilar, CHPD