Clovers, Cops and Christmas effort set to benefit needy in community

CLOVERDALE -- Three local FFA chapters and the Cloverdale Police Department have come together and started a charity event for needy families in Cloverdale and surrounding towns.

The inaugural Clovers, Cops and Christmas is set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the C Bar C Expo Center in Cloverdale. It is open to the public and all families are welcome to attend.

The toy drive started several years back, but the involvement of the Cloverdale, North Putnam and South Putnam FFA chapters, along with Cloverdale police, has made it a bigger event.

CPD's involvement began with a simple message from Cloverdale FFA member Mariah Huge to Chief Mike Clark.

"It was a charity that I just couldn't turn down, I knew that this could be big with the right community support," Clark said.

The FFA Chapter is currently taking donations to help give these families a great Christmas. They need a wide variety of toys for all ages of children. To donate, contact Callie Edie at cedie@cloverdale.k12.in.us or 795-4203.

At the event they will have a private area full of toys that are separated by age and gender. The parents will be allowed to pick out a few toys for their children. There will be a wrapping station, so parents can wrap their gifts to give to their children on Christmas morning.

Santa and his elves will be present at the event and there will be an activities space for children to play and mingle.

Clovers, Cops and Christmas will also feature a Christmas dinner for the families, with Cloverdale Police officers donating their time and funds to cook a huge meal.

The Police Department is taking donations for the dinner.

"We are expecting 600 kids, and close to 1,500 people total," Clark said. "This is our second year and it's even bigger than the last. We can use all the help we can get to make this thing happen."

To donate to the CPD dinner effort, call Cloverdale Town Hall at 795-6033.