5th Police District seeks donations for holiday kids party

The Fifth Police District in Roxborough is seeking the assistance of community members and local businesses for their 44th annual Children’s Christmas Party.

A holiday tradition for the district, which serves Roxborough, Andorra, and Manayunk, the party will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 12, and will feature second grade students from Dobson Elementary School on Umbria Street.Last year, students from Levering Elementary School and Holy Child Elementary – both of which are now closed – received two gifts apiece, one from the district and one from Santa, ranging from board games to bicycles.

“We try to give a different school a chance each year,” said Charles Kline, community relations officer for the Fifth District who is tasked with organizing the party.

Kline said that donations are still being accepted to help ensure that each student gets a nice gift, and to help offset the costs of food and entertainment, such as guest appearances from the mummer’s band.

In addition, students can expect a visit from Santa Claus, who will shed his sleigh for the day and be escorted to the party in a fire truck.

Kline praised Roxborough-based Penn Distributors for their ongoing contributions to the fete, but said that donations will still be taken up to the date of the party – or later.

“Before or after, it all goes in,” he said, adding that any late donations will be applied to next year’s event.

Despite an early start, Kline is still busy putting the final touches on everything.

“We started planning in August,” he said, “but there’s still a lot to do.”