FGCU’s Police Department and Heroes Unmasked Inc., a Southwest Florida nonprofit, are partnering for UPD’s 5th Annual Toy Drive. Participants can donate new, unopened toys, and contribute monetarily. Collection began on Nov. 18 and will conclude on Dec. 7.

Donations will go to children’s hospitals across the state of Florida, and children requiring residential medical care in our area. Campus departments and organizations collect donations in their own spaces, and those without affiliation can donate at the UPD lobby, located on the north side of the Campus Support Complex.

Heroes Unmasked will be delivering the toys in a unique way. Their mission is to brighten the lives of ill children while dressed in superhero costumes.

In a Nov. 14 email, UPD Law Enforcement Sergeant Myles Kittleson revealed that donation records are broken every year. The drive aims to surpass last year’s totals of 2,330 toys, and $1,400 in monetary donations.

“We know it’s been a tough time for everybody, including a lot of people here on campus,” Kittleson said. “We just hope to continue our growing trend towards being able to provide toys and gift cards to those families that have been affected.”