Allegheny Valley toy distribution takes on different look this year, but still makes kids smile

An annual Shop with a Cop toy distribution event in the Alle-Kiski Valley took on a different look this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but still sent children home with a smile.

In past years, officers from the Harmar, Springdale Borough and Allegheny Valley police departments would take children to Target Stores and help them pick out toys supplied by the retailer.

This year, officers picked out the toys and brought them to Acmetonia Elementary in Harmar for a drive-up distribution.

“This gives us an opportunity to get together with some of the local children and try and give them a nicer Christmas experience, especially some of the less fortunate families in the community,” said Harmar police Sgt. J.J. Fechke.

“It’s frustrating just because I know how it’s worked in the past and it’s helped us to interact with the children,” Fechke said. “This is one of the rare opportunities where you get to show them, ‘Hey, we’re the good guys.’ If a kid picks out a toy with a cop, every time they play with that toy, they’re going to remember that connection.”

Shop with a Cop toy distribution underway at Acmetonia Elementary school in Harmar. pic.twitter.com/OWEufB8Luv

— Paul Guggenheimer (@PGuggenheimer) December 21, 2020

There was still some interaction between the children and officers.

With many toys spread out on a long table outside the school’s entrance, a young boy named Carmelo Anderson had a hard time deciding which toy to take home. With help from the officers, he ended up choosing a Matchbox search-and-rescue helicopter and walked away smiling.

Allegheny Valley School District public relations director Jan Zastawniak helped pick a wide variety of toys for the event, including a bicycle, a 10-piece Barbie set, Our Generation Dolls, Lego sets, Play Doh, Hot Wheels, Nurf X-Shots and a Super CraZ-Loom billed as “The Biggest Loom Ever.”

An email was sent to parents of students who met the program’s criteria and then children were instructed to make a wish list. Toys were bought with money from a Target Heroes and Helpers grant benefiting children from all four of the school district’s municipalities — Springdale Borough, Springdale Township, Cheswick and Harmar.

“We tried to find as much as we could,” Zastawniak said. “Some were orders we had to have shipped to us and some were things we could pick up at the stores. We always want to support our students, especially this year with the difficult time some families are having. We want to make sure that the kids can enjoy the holidays.”

Springdale Borough Police Chief George Polnar was participating for the first time, even though he was on vacation.

“It’s been a rough year for everybody,” Polnar said. “A lot of people are out of work without any income. It’s a good thing to do for the kids because who knows what next year is going to bring. It’s nice to bring some smiles to some faces.”