By Kaitlin Carman Asst. News Editor FSUPD hosted their second annual Stuff a Cruiser event on the McCarthy Center patio Dec. 4 and 5 to collect new and unwrapped toys for the 2024 Toys for Tots campaign. Students, faculty, staff, and community members enjoyed hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, and candy from Dining Services, and were greeted by FSUPD Chief Joseph Cecchi and K9 Ramsey, who were dressed up as Blue Santa and his furry elf. FSUPD Sgt. Harpreet Singh said, “We had a great, successful event last year. That's the first time we had a stuffed cruiser event with Blue Santa.” Chief Cecchi “dresses up as a blue Santa. He was doing that prior to coming to FSU at Quinsigamond Community College. … He wanted to keep that tradition and bring it to FSU,” Singh said. Last year, they collected over 400 toys, which nearly doubled the number of toys the University collected in 2022, according to Singh. He added, “Our four bins were filled. We had one of the interview rooms all full of toys. So, we had a lot - close to 500 [toys]. But this year, our goal is bigger.” The University is a registered Toys for Tots drop-off location, meaning anyone can come and donate toys at one of the four donation sites on campus. The donation bins are located at FSUPD, the Whittemore Library, the Dean of Students Office, and the Veteran Services Center. The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program began in 1947 in Los Angeles, and became a national program in 1948, according to their website. The Toys for Tots MA website describes the program as a “national effort administered locally,” meaning that “the community in which toys will be distributed is the same community in which they were collected.” “The success of the program relies on volunteer support and community involvement,” the website said. The University is also accepting anonymous nominations from within the FSU community to give the toys to individuals who need support during the holiday season. Singh said it is a great way to get other members of the community involved in such a charitable and meaningful event. “My goal is to always do bigger and better every year” - not only for the Toys for Tots event, but all fundraising and donation events for the University,” said Singh. After collecting the donated toys, Singh said FSUPD will take them to the collection site in Boston as part of the 2024 Cruiser Convoy. He added that any gifts that will not fit in the cruiser will be picked up by representatives from Toys for Tots. “I personally bring our donations to Boston because of the convoy. I wanted to represent Framingham State University, also the police department itself and collaborate with other police PDs as well. It's a great feeling,” said Singh. Singh said in addition to FSU, Northeastern University, Babson College, Bunker Hill Community College, Boston University, Harvard University, UMass Boston, Lasell University, Salem State University, and Bentley University are participating in the convoy. On Dec. 13, the convoy will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Bunker Hill Community College and end at the Toys for Tots collection center located at The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Before FSUPD took over the Toys for Tots collection efforts, it was coordinated by Millie Gonzalez, the dean of the library. “The library is a community place, so we're happy to put any boxes out there to accept either toys or foods and things like that. Whatever we can do for the community, we will do it,” said Gonzalez. Singh said the collaboration with Whittemore Library, FSUPD, Veteran Services, Dining Services, the Dean of Students Office, and the universities participating in the Cruiser Convoy is an amazing opportunity to make deeper connections not only within the FSU community, but multiple communities across the commonwealth. “We just want to make every kid's holiday special, and just have the community come together and make a big impact. That's huge for us, but it's all about working as a team,” he added. Singh attributed the success of the University's Toys for Tots campaign in part to the generosity of students. “I'm pretty impressed with our students when it comes to making such an impact - they always come out and help out,” said Singh. Senior Esther Ngaippe said, “I love this initiative because we know that not everybody has access to the funds [for presents]. So the fact that they can get toys from us - from the school - is actually really great.” Sophomore Emily Johnson said, “I think all the little kids should have food and toys for the holidays and just throughout the year. “So, the toy drive is really important for low-income families and kids in poverty so that they have the same experiences as everyone else,” added Johnson. Senior Carlos Febres-Cordero said, “I think it's a way to bring people together for a really good cause. … Any time kids are involved in doing good things for kids, I think it's a net positive, not just for the Framingham State community, but the Boston area as a whole.” Framingham resident TJ Langmeyer said he was excited to be able to contribute to the University’s toy collection efforts this year. “It makes me happy knowing I will have helped make a kid’s Christmas brighter. I’ll do anything to help out in the community,” Langmeyer added.