PBA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31
Howell Local 228 members unload gifts from the truckload of toys they delivered to the NJ State PBA Toy Drive.
sorted by ages from newborns to 21-year-olds, while members
kept coming in to deliver bags and bags of toys. As the officers
and delegates watch the room fill with donations each year, they
hope that the gifts bring joy to whoever’s hands they eventually
land in. But what the officers may not realize is that their contribution is more than a physical toy, it’s the assurance foster
and adopted children feel that there are important people in the
community who care about them. These experiences often shape
the goals kids make while growing up without stable homes.
“One thing that we notice is that kids in foster care, as they
grow up–a lot of times they want to do professions that give
back,” shared Patmalnee. “You’d be amazed how many of them
want to be police officers because they may remember a police
officer coming and helping them or just coaching them through.
(Officers) want kids to be safe... and because (these kids) know
what it’s like to not be safe, a lot of them want to go into those
types of professions.” d
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ DECEMBER 2016