Normally, when people think of the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) they think of men and women in uniforms getting out of patrol cars and writing them a ticket for something they probably shouldn’t have been doing in the first place. Luckily, with the holiday season almost upon us, the GSP is in a giving mood.

No, they aren’t going to let you get away with speeding or weaving in and out of traffic, but they will be glad to be the receivers of new toys for children in need this Christmas. The GSP, along with officers with the Georgia Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Compliance Division and Capitol Police Services Unit are teaming with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve for the 2009 Toys for Tots program. Col. Bill Hitchens, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, recently announced that collection points for new, unwrapped toys are being established at all 48 Georgia State Patrol posts across the state, including Post 10 here in Americus.

Sgt. Tommy Peeples, with Post 10, said, “This is a great program that benefits the children in our local community. All the toys that are donated in this area, get spread around to kids in our area in order for them to have a great holiday season.”

Peeples said that toy donations can be made at the Georgia State Patrol Post 10 office, located next door to the new Sumter County Courthouse between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Dec. 9. The toys donated should be new and unwrapped.

For more information call Post 10 at 931-2397.