Bethel Police Thanks Target & Bethel Buzz for Help With Toy Drive

Bethel Police Thanks Target & Bethel Buzz for Help With Toy Drive

The Bethel Police Department had planned on holding a Stuff-a-Cruiser event at the Bethel Target to benefit local needy children this holiday season. Captain Bruckenthal of the Bethel Police sent Bethel Buzz the information to get the word out to the community and Bethel Buzz published the article on Dec. 5. (click here to read)

On a local level, Target was working with the Bethel P.D. to host the event, however on Dec. 6, Target Corporate was made aware of the Stuff-a-Crusier toy drive and canceled the event due to their “No Solicitation” policy. Following a phone call from Wendy Mitchell, owner/editor of Bethel Buzz, Target promised to donate $1,000 to the Bethel Police Benevolent Fund, who were organizing the event, and Target’s media relations department issued the following statement:

“Target partners year-round with local law enforcement across the country, including the Bethel Police Department, and annually evaluate how we can best partner to make a positive impact in the community.

This year, Target is providing a $1,000 grant to the “Stuff a Cruiser” event to enable the police department to purchase gifts for area children.  Prior to this weekend’s shopping event, additional donations will also be accepted at the Bethel Police Department.

Target is focused on creating a great shopping experience for our guests, which includes providing them with a distraction-free shopping environment. Therefore, we prohibit solicitation at our stores regardless of the cause or issue being represented. We continue to educate our stores across the country to ensure they have a thorough understanding of Target’s policies.

Target donates 5 percent of our profits to communities—more than $4 million per week—and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours each year to non-profit organizations across the country and continuously evaluate our partnerships to ensure they are supporting the community.”

Molly Snyder, Communications Manager, Target

Last Saturday, Captain Bruckenthal went to Target to collect the donation and purchase gifts for Bethel Social Services who will distribute them to needy families in the community.

After a successful collection, Captain Bruckenthal sent the following letter to Bethel Buzz:

Dear Wendy Mitchell, Bethel Buzz,                                                                                                                                 December, 10, 2012

Let me start by giving you a HUGE THANK YOU!!!! It was your prompting that pushed Target into the $1,000.00 donation. Several officers, along with Target employees, went  shopping at Target and spent the monies and loaded the closets for Bethel Social Services. Without your help we would not have had the success with this program with the last-minute problems we endured.

The Bethel Police Benevolent Association will continue to accept gifts for those in need, at the Bethel Police Department, 49 Plumtrees Road,  until Saturday December 15^th. Thanks again for all of your help next year I may seek your expertise earlier.

Have a great Holiday Season!

Regards,

Captain David Bruckenthal