- April 25, 2024
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from: City of Flagler Beach
The Flagler Beach Police Department is proud to announce that our annual Toys for Tickets program, which inspired last year's “Christmas in July,” will return in 2022.
Citizens who receive a warning citation for a minor traffic infraction or a parking offense can volunteer to participate in a program that benefits the youth of our community. Citizen participation is 100% voluntary.
Beginning Sunday, July 10, and continuing through Sunday, July 31, Flagler Beach Police Department officers, at their discretion, will be issuing "toy waivers" along with warning citations for non-criminal state traffic offenses and/or city parking offenses.
The “toy waiver” provides motorists with information on how to donate a new, unwrapped toy to the Police Department.
At the end of the campaign, the Police Department will turn over all donated toys to our partner in this initiative, Christmas Come True.
Christmas Come True is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to "provide a complete Christmas experience for area resident parents who are unable to financially afford a traditional Christmas for their families.”
Motorists who choose to participate in the program will be instructed to drop off a new, unwrapped toy between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Flagler Beach Police Department, 204 South Flagler Ave., Flagler Beach, FL 32136
“2021 was the first year we extended the program, and it brought the spirit of the holidays during the heat of the summer” Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney said. “This program is about the children of our community and making their holidays special. The summertime program will assist our partners at Christmas Come True in making our kids smile, which warms our hearts."
Doughney added, “Compliance with state laws and city ordinances is our goal. The expansion of this educational program was a natural progression designed to create additional traffic safety awareness to motorists in the summer. Our secondary goal is to keep our city safe, while making the holidays special for our children!”
The summer programs partnership was summed up by Christmas Come True Executive Director Nadine King.
"Christmas Come True and all our volunteers are so very grateful for the incredible support we receive from Chief Doughney and the Flagler Beach Police Dept," King said. "We love and treasure our partnership with the Flagler Beach Police Department. This Toys for Tickets program spreads goodwill amongst our community and our visitors, who get such pleasure from helping our struggling families."
King added, "This year, the needs are growing because of the negative impact of inflation — rents, food, gas and everything else that just keeps working against these families ever getting ahead. These toys will go not only for our Christmas project, but also for the birthday needs of these families, as well. Thank you for your support! You can go to www.Christmascometrue.org to find out more about our organization.”
