Collier County Sheriff’s Office holding holiday toy drive to benefit neglected children

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is inviting you to join them in making the holiday a little merrier and brighter for some deserving children dealing with traumatic, life-changing events.

This year’s “Celebrate with a Star” program will benefit children assigned to the 20th Judicial Circuit Guardian at Litem program in partnership with the Voices for Kids of Southwest Florida (VFK) agency.

CCSO says there are more than 200 children, from infants up to 19 years old, living in the county who have been abandoned or are alleged to have been abused or neglected.

Guardian ad Litem volunteers advocate for these kids in courts, the child welfare system and the community.

If you’d like to participate in the Celebrate for a Star program, there are several ways to do so.

If you’d like to provide a child with a gift, simply email media@colliersheriff.org and CCSO will reply with a child’s age and his or her holiday wish.

Another option is to stop by and select an ornament from the tree in the Human Resources lobby of the CCSO headquarters located at 3319 Tamiami Trail E. in the Collier County Government Center.

Each ornament has a child’s age and gift wish.

VFK says they prefer the gifts to be wrapped, but will also gladly accept those that are not. However, you are asked to please make sure to securely attach the star provided to your donated gifts.

The drive began Tuesday, Nov. 19 and all gifts must be dropped off at the CCSO Human Resources lobby (address listed above) or any of the following CCSO substations during business hours by Tuesday, Dec. 3.

• District 1 – North Naples
  • 776 Vanderbilt Beach Road
    Naples, FL 34108
• District 2 – Golden Gate
  • 4707 Golden Gate Parkway
    Naples, FL 34116
• District 3 – East Naples
  • 8075 Lely Cultural Parkway
    Naples, FL 34113
• District 4 – Golden Gate Estates
  • 14750 Immokalee Road
    Naples, FL 34120
• District 5 – South Naples/Everglades
  • 13245 Tamiami Trail E. #100
    Naples, FL 34113
• District 8 – Immokalee
  • 112 S. First St.
    Immokalee, FL 34142

If you have any questions, please call CCSO’s Media Relations Bureau at 239-252-0604 or email media@colliersheriff.org.