Donate Toys At Nashville Zoo for Metro Nashville Police Department's Mounted Patrol Division

By Jim Bartoo

Nashville, TN - Metro Nashville Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Division will collect donated toys for its annual Christmas Basket Program on Dec. 5 and 6 at Nashville Zoo.

Sergeant J.D. Harber and other Metro police officers will collect the toys in the Zoo’s parking lot from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. both days. As an added incentive, the Zoo is offering a complimentary Nashville Zoo admission ticket for every new toy donated. Metro officers will accept letters written to Santa Claus that they will deliver to the North Pole in time for Christmas, and horses from the Mounted Patrol Division will be available for guests to meet.

The toy drive is part of the Metro Police Department’s 48th annual Christmas Basket Program, a charity drive designed to collect toys and other items for area families in need of assistance during the holidays. In addition, the Metro Police Department is assisting with USA Cares, a charity that supports wounded military veterans and their families. The Zoo’s gift shop will also accept donated toys throughout December for the Christmas Basket Program. Police officers will deliver the donated toys to children on the morning of Dec. 24.

Zoo admission is not required to donate toys. Toys must be unwrapped and designed for children 12 and younger. The complimentary Zoo tickets may be used anytime during normal Zoo hours through the end of January 2010.

Nashville Zoo is accredited by the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums, assuring the highest standards of animal care and husbandry. The Zoo is a non-profit organization located at 3777 Nolensville Road and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The mission of the Nashville Zoo is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of our natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership. For more information about Nashville Zoo, call 615-833-1534 or visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

Photo credit:  Tori Mason

To view Nashville Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-110-Nashville_Zoo