Fall River Police, Mike Borden, making Christmas special for area kids

Black Friday, as we all know, is one of the biggest shopping days of the year where many are looking for deals for Christmas gifts for friends and family or maybe even a little something for themselves.

Black Friday can also serve another purpose. Making Christmas brighter for Fall River children that may not have a gift waiting for them underneath the tree.

For over 20 years now, Mike Borden from Massachusetts Probation, along with the Fall River Police Department, collect or purchase toys for children that may go without this Christmas.

While these drives are always very successful in collecting thousands of toys to pass out for Christmas, this year the drive has hit a little snag.

According to Acting City Council President Pam Laliberte-Lebeau, this year, the toy drive’s main supplier of toys, Hasbro, has new company rules and are no longer able to donate to the cause.

This is where the public comes in.

While collecting money and toys for Christmas by FRPD and Borden just doesn’t happen during the holiday season, Black Friday is a perfect time to help.

At SouthCoast Marketplace on Black Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., thanks to Braga Transportation, a yellow school bus will be parked waiting for donations of new and unwrapped toys.

While you are out and about shopping tomorrow, you can stop by and donate to one of the waiting volunteers and warm your heart on a cold November day.