By Corporal Melissa Montesino, Sunny Isles Beach Police Department

The following article was written by Police Corporal Melissa Montesino with contributions from Officer Alan Saladrigas.  Corporal Montesino is the coordinator for the Toy Drive at Christmas Time, sponsored by Sunny Isles Beach Police Department and the City Commission.  She is totally dedicated to helping families and organizations and this year presented an opportunity to expand our goals and help out the children at Joe DiMaggio’s Hospital.  Now, there are some real kids in need of a gift, a smile a hug and some love.  And that is exactly what they received as told in Melissa’s story.  God Bless All of You for Your Help. — Chief Maas.

Thanks to the generosity of our residents coupled with our Community School and sponsors like Wal-Mart Inc, The Cops and Commissioners for Kids Annual Toy Drive continues to be a great success.  This year was not any different.  As we have for nearly 10 years, the drive provided gifts to over 30 families with a total of 74 children in all. In addition to the families we gave toys to, we were fortunate to have enough left over to donate to various organizations throughout the community.  Among them was Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. 

On Monday, December 21st, 2009, Santa’s helpers from the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department loaded up their sleigh with lots of toys.  Disguised as one of our police vehicles, a Ford F-150, we headed over to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.  Once there, we were met by hospital staff, who welcomed us with open arms.  Just as we arrived, hospital personnel were in the middle of sorting through their toy donations.  We were escorted to a large room where the toys were being divided into age groups.  It was evident the holiday spirit was in the air as staff members worked diligently to prepare for the toy distribution to the children on December 25th. 

 Child Life Coordinator, Katie Matby, who is in charge of accepting and distributing all toy donations at the hospital to the young patients expressed her heart-felt gratitude and appreciation for the donations we had brought to them for this holiday season.  “Thank you so much for helping us!  After all that our little pediatric patients go through on a day to day basis and how they have to spend the holidays in the hospital, it is the best feeling to watch their little faces when they receive a toy Christmas morning,” Matby said.

There is no greater satisfaction one receives than when they know that they have brought a smile to a child’s face.  Providing toys for our families in need and local organizations, such as Joe DiMaggio Hospital, is one of the biggest reasons we enjoy doing this project every year.  With the difficult economic times, organizations like Joe DiMaggio Hospital and others depend on these donations.  Every year, even when we think we will not make our donation goals, somehow the community always comes through.  People from all walks of life respond to our drop off location boxes throughout the city and fill them up with gifts for these children. 

 Whether through monetary donations or actual toys, people’s good nature and kind hearts always prevail.  On behalf of The City of Sunny Isles Beach Police Department and City Hall, we would like to thank all of you who every year help to bring joy to so many children.