The Update

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Holiday Toy & Food Drive

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Holiday Toy & Food Drive is one of our longest-standing traditions and one of the projects our deputies look forward to the most each year. Organized by the employees of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of outside community groups and the BCSO Citizen Alumni Association, this drive brings together deputies, civilian staff, volunteers, and community partners to make sure local families in need experience the joy, relief, and warmth of the holiday season.

Each year, our deputies identify families throughout Bernalillo County who are facing financial hardship or unexpected challenges. Many are referred by school resource officers, detectives, road deputies, or community members who encounter children and parents struggling with basic necessities. The goal of the program is simple: ensure every family we reach has a holiday meal on the table and every child receives at least one gift to unwrap.

Toys & Food Drive

The Toy & Food Drive operates with a mix of donated funds, community support, and hands-on volunteer work. Monetary donations are used to purchase toys, winter essentials, pantry staples, and fresh food items. Volunteers help sort, organize, and wrap gifts, assemble family meal boxes, and prepare the items for distribution. On delivery day, BCSO deputies personally deliver each package—often in uniform and sometimes with a patrol convoy—which has become a cherished moment for the families and for our staff.

Last year, the program supported more than one hundred children and provided holiday food boxes to families across Bernalillo County. This year, demand is higher and we will do our best to provide for every referral we receive. Our deputies have already raised more than $6,000 through internal fundraisers, but we rely on public support to meet the growing need and to reach every family on our list.

This drive reflects the heart of the Sheriff’s Office: service, compassion, and community partnership. Every donation, whether large or small, directly impacts a local family. Together, we can ensure that children who might otherwise go without will instead experience the joy and magic of the season.