Amador County – The 2010 Amador County Sheriff’s Department Christmas Toy Drive again was a success this year, holding the drive Dec. 18 at the St. Sava Mission in Jackson.

The Sheriff’s department hosted its annual Christmas Toy Drive with assistance from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation of Mule Creek State Prison.

The Sheriff’s office, in announcing the successes, said: “During these harder times it is more important than ever to lend a helping hand, and that could not be possible without the assistance of our community joining together as they have done every year.”

This year the Sheriff’s Office with the help from the Amador County Superintendent of Schools implemented a local voucher program, to ensure that toys donated by local citizens were placed with local children.

Sheriff Martin Ryan and his department acknowledged the assistance of many private or public groups. One was the employees of Mule Creek, whose “Toy Drive Committee” collect money year-round through bake sales, parking lot sales, and raffles. Mule Creek has partnered with the Sheriff’s Office for the past three years and through their donations, typically account for almost half of the toys donated each year.

Warden Michael Martel purchased a flat screen TV and offered it as a raffle prize for employees who brought in a new toy for the toy drive. Mule Creek employees successfully acquired and donated several thousand toys.

The Stockton Bicycle Club donated toward purchase of bicycles, and the Sheriff’s Office was able to purchase several bicycles, raffled off to local children December 18.

Kmart assisted in purchasing bicycles with its Kmart Care program, to collect a total of 18 bicycles. In all, 30 bicycles were given to local children.

Wal-Mart, another noteworthy contributor, through a grant program allowed the Sheriff’s Office to purchase additional toys and supplies.

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