RUPD holiday toy drive benefits 14 families

RUPD Blue Santa toy drive 2024
Blue Santa toy drive
(Photos by Gustavo Raskosky)

The Rice University Police Department (RUPD) partnered with the Children’s Assessment Center (CAC) to sponsor 14 families for its 12th annual Blue Santa Toy Drive. All donated items were wrapped and hand-delivered during the holiday season.

The CAC is a haven for children who have been sexually abused and their families. The organization’s goal is to promote healing for the children and to ensure families receive care and treatment.

“I’m extremely grateful for all the donations we received to fulfill the wish list. My co-workers and the Rice community made a huge impact to the children and families receiving the gifts,” said Maritza Lopez, patrol sergeant and donation coordinator. “It’s very heartwarming to be a part of this cause. I hope we can continue Operation Blue Santa for the children and their families for many more years to come.”

Throughout the drive, RUPD set up collection areas at Mudd Lab, Fondren Library, the campus post office, the BioScience Research Collaborative, the dean of engineering’s office in Duncan Hall and Rice Children’s Campus.

In addition to the individual donations, many departments on campus pooled their resources to collect gifts for the drive during their holiday celebrations. Those groups include the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing Office of the Dean, Development and Alumni Relations and the Moody Center for the Arts.

Blue Santa toy drive

Body