WS Chronicle

Each year the Winston-Salem Police and Fire departments collect donations from the citizens of the city for their annual toy drive.  The drive is put together to assist those in need from around the community.  As part of that drive, several lucky students from Ashley Elementary School were blessed with toys they otherwise would not have been able to receive.

Each child selected was given a bag full of toys along with an encouraging word from new Police Chief Catrina Thompson.  The local Fire Department was unable to make it to Ashley Elementary on this trip.

The drive receives donations from all over the city and the Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity (MCWSV) also donated funds for the toy drive.  Dr. Lamonte Williams, president of the MCWSV, is also an employee at Ashley and says the toy drive was a welcome sight at his school because he consistently sees children in need.

“What this did was reinforce the fact that one of the greatest feelings in the world is when you do a kind deed for someone else,” Williams said.  “At the end of the day, there is nothing more priceless than knowing you increased the value of another person, particularly a child.”

“The gift just keeps on giving even more when you look at these young kids and you know that for some of them this will be the only gift they will see.  I wanted the Ministers’ Conference to be a part of what the Police Department was doing to uplift their efforts.”

The children were all smiles once they received their bags of toys.  Some of them could not wait to play with their new gifts.

“I am really, really happy to get some new toys,” said third-grader Khari Smith at the top of his lungs.  “I was surprised when I opened up the bag, but all I can say is I love it.”

Chief Thompson says their mission is to protect and serve, so they want the children to know the police are there to help them.

“I think it’s important that we understand that our children are our future, so if we invest in helping them be successful, we let them know that we believe in them and will do anything to support them,” Thompson said.  “If we do that on the front end, then they will be more likely to be successful in life, our community will be safer because they are educated and they will be real contributors to the community.

“Our goal is to let the children know that they can be successful and they don’t have to be born with a silver spoon in their mouths. I definitely wasn’t.  To see the smiles on these kids’ faces was priceless, and I can’t even explain it to you.  At the end of the day it is a reminder of why I get out of bed every day and put this uniform on.”

Scarlet Linville, principal of Ashley Elementary, says on days like this it makes her feel “a part of a bigger mission” and doing God’s work.  She feels when the kids social and emotional needs are met, they can better focus on their schoolwork.  She is so thankful to Chief Thompson and the police department for “spreading some cheer” at Ashley Elementary.