New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“Many of them have never seen a Christmas tree or gifts.”
That’s what JRI Program Director Robert Costa told us in Berkley Tuesday afternoon as we dropped off a ton of toys to brighten the holidays for local children receiving adoption and foster care services from JRI.
Through an amazing amount of support from inside and outside the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, our K9 team collected and delivered hundreds of toys for those children in need.
“I’m really at a loss for words,” Costa told us Tuesday afternoon. “We can’t thank you enough.”
Most of the toys were collected from the annual K9 Toy Drive last weekend, where, in the pouring rain, cars kept coming by to drop off toys for kids in need. We had record numbers of support from the BCSO staff and their families, and we can’t thank them enough for their generosity.
We also owe big gratitude to Dr. Cynthia Comstock of Chase Farm Veterinary Hospital, South Coast Towing, Aaron Pools & Spas, Fairhaven Firestorm of South Coast Girls Softball, as well as the Palmer, Cambra and Larrabee families.
“Our K9 team did an amazing job and the support they got from the community, especially the BCSO family, was unbelievable,” Sheriff Hodgson said. “No child should grow up never seeing a Christmas tree or a present, and we all take tremendous pride in knowing we helped these kids in need have a nice Christmas.”
If you’ve seen our K9 team around in the community the last month or so, you may have noticed some beards growing on their faces. They, along with Supt. Steven Souza participated in No Shave November and collected donations which were given to Mr. Costa on Tuesday in addition to the toys. Lt. Kenneth Almeida presented Mr. Costa with more than $1,700 to make the holidays extra bright for those kids getting foster care services.
From our K9 team and the rest of us at the BCSO, we were proud to take part in this and we wish all those children, and the rest of the people in Bristol County, a very happy and safe holiday season.
All photos by the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office:
