Overton Sheriff’s Department Partners With Santa’s Secret Workshop

The Overton County Sheriff’s Department is partnering up with The Steel Coop to try and make the biggest toy drive possible.

Sheriff John Garrett said the department decided to join in the Santa’s Secret Workshop so that all the toy drive efforts could be merged into one big event. Garrett said he sees first hand the challenges facing children who need the community’s help this holiday.

“Christmas is a special time, especially when you’re a youngster,” Garrett said. “We just want to make sure that we can help in any way that we can, to provide a positive feeling at Christmas.”

The workshop will be held December 7-9 at 208 South Church Street in Livingston. Garrett said the department had been doing its own toy drive for over 15 years, but got a request to help The Steel Coop and Cooper Recycling.

“Instead of just doing a multitude of smaller toy drives, bring all of our resources together and try to make a bigger, better one.”

Garrett said to be on the lookout for donation boxes at Walgreens and the Dollar Market. He said they will be asking for new, in-the-box toys and gifts for kids.

“Unfortunately we have to plan for this and try to make sure we have a plan for it,” Garrett said. “We don’t want to bring in something that could have been tampered with or something of that nature or could actually be a danger to a receiving child.”

Garrett said anyone looking to volunteer should reach out to The Steel Coop and Cooper Recycling. Santa’s Secret Workshop will be set up for parents or guardians to shop for their children for free.

The Overton Elves will be in attendance to help wrap presents and spread a little holiday joy.