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Dover Police Accepting Donations for 2020 Holiday Heroes Program km

The temperatures are dropping, days are shorter, and the leaves are changing which also means the holiday season is quickly approaching.  While this time of year is certainly joyous for most, there are many families that struggle to provide for their children during the holidays.  That is especially true in 2020 as many families have suffered income losses as the result of the Covid-19 Pandemic.  The Holiday Heroes program by the Dover Police Department is here to help for the 8th consecutive year, but will need the communities help to raise funds.

Traditionally, Holiday Heroes allowed children from the Dover area to pair up with a Dover Police Officer to go shopping for Christmas gifts at the Dover Target store.  However, due to concerns with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Dover Police and Target have made the decision to change the way the program operates for 2020.  Rather than taking children shopping in person, the department will provide assistance in the following ways:
-Have items delivered to families home by officers
-Purchase coats, hats, gloves, other necessities, and toys and donate to local charities and/or schools.
-Have items delivered directly to families homes

“It is incredibly disappointing that we are going to lose the one-on-one bonding time with the children this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but when we spoke with our partners at Target, we all agreed that we had to make this program work in 2020, knowing so many families in our community are struggling right now,” said Sgt. Mark Hoffman who has been a part of the program since it began in 2013.  

Donations are being accepted at the Dover Police Department.  Please call 302-736-7130 or email mark.hoffman@cj.state.de.us to make arrangements for donations.  Donations can be made in the form of cash, Target Gift Cards, or check (payable to Dover Police Holiday Heroes).

Gift cards can also be purchased online and emailed to mark.hoffman@cj.state.de.us

There is no online fundraising campaign for this program. 

All donations must be received by December 1st.