The 26th annual Essex County Sheriff's Holiday Gift Drive was Wednesday.
NEWARK -- Christmas came a bit early this year for needy kids in Essex County.
The annual Essex County Sheriff's Holiday Gift Drive - which saw Sheriff's Office and other county employees collecting toys over the past several weeks - doled out over 5,000 toys Wednesday.
Officers loaded their trucks and toured more than 20 locations, including the Salvation Army and area hospitals, dropping off toys as they went.
"We are trying to fulfill every child's need and every child's dream," Sheriff Armando Fontoura said in a statement about the event.
"Our vehicles are loaded with computer games, iPOD's, educational activities, bicycles, skate boards, roller skates, books, all sorts of sports gear, dolls and board games. You name it we've got it. We will also provide winter coats to those who need them."
This marked the 26th year the department has hosted the toy drop off.
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