Mira Lagos community hosts fundraiser for Santa Cop/Santa Spot
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| Jacqueline Campbell, 15, collects a cash donation to Santa Cop at Saturday's toy drive hosted by the the Mira Lagos Homeowners Association. © 2010 - Bob Fitch/Grand Prairie Reporter |
Members of Grand Prairie’s Mira Lagos Homeowners Association braved the cold north wind Saturday morning to man the intersection of England Parkway and Day Miar to collect donations for its second annual toy drive and fundraiser for Santa Cop/Santa Spot.
J. Hughes, Co-chairman for safety for the HOA, said Santa Cop was chosen as a way for it to help the community. He learned of the charity from police officers and firefighters he met while his employer, Manhattan Construction, built the city’s new public safety building.
Officer Mark Calvert, spokesman for Santa Cop, said the country’s economic condition has hurt the charitable organization. Applications for assistance are up, but donations are slightly down, he said. Fortunately, it had a stockpile of items that should carry Santa Cop through this Christmas, Officer Calvert added.
Santa Cop is also in danger of losing its storage space. The charity’s landlord said it would need the space for future expansion.
Officer Calvert said Santa Cop needs about 10,000 square feet of storage and work area. He continued that Santa Cop is not a Christmas only charity; it provides assistance year-round to families affected by fires, natural disasters, accidents, and victims of spousal abuse.
Anyone wanting to help Santa Cop with storage space can call Officer Calvert at 972-237-8814.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable foods for deserving Grand Prairie families in need can be dropped off at collection boxes located at:
Grand Prairie Fire Stations
Grand Prairie Police Department, 1525 Arkansas Lane
Grand Prairie City Hall, 317 College St.
Grand Prairie Libraries Main Library, 901 Conover Drive
Warmack Branch Library, 760 Bardin Road
Bowles Branch Library, 2750 Graham St.
