Members of Genesee County's law enforcement community were at Batavia Towne Center Saturday for the annual Stuff the Cruiser event.

Shoppers are asked during the event to donate gifts that will be distributed for Christmas to families in Genesee County.

Last year, the event assisted 450 local families.

Officers said that by mid-afternoon, in sunny weather, this year appeared to be a banner year for donations.

Press Release:

As the holiday season approaches, a collaborative effort is underway to bring joy and support to underprivileged children and teenagers in Genesee County. 

On Nov. 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., "Stuff the Cruiser" will take place in Batavia, featuring the active involvement of many local law enforcement and social welfare agencies including the Genesee County Probation Department, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department, the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Genesee County Department of Social Services.

Residents and community members are encouraged to visit the Batavia Towne Center parking lot on Veterans Memorial Drive, where police cruisers from these agencies will be stationed. There is no need to avoid the area due to these vehicles; instead, we invite everyone to join this heartwarming event. 

The focus of "Stuff the Cruiser" is to collect gifts and essentials for children and teenagers aged eighteen and under throughout Genesee County. We seek your support in making this holiday season brighter for those in need. Donated items such as new toys, new clothing, small denomination gift cards, personal care gift sets, hats, gloves, accessories, and non-perishable food items are highly appreciated. 

All contributions will remain within Genesee County, ensuring they reach children and families who can benefit from these gifts during the holiday season. 

For further information, please contact Jason Mindler, Probation Supervisor at the Genesee County Probation Department, at 585-344-2550 ext. 2254 or Jason.Mindler@co.genesee.ny.us. 

These may be tough economic times, but local folks came through and gave plentifully during Genesee County Probation Department's annual Stuff the Cruiser collection last month.

The department reported that more than 450 local children were provided with gifts for the 2022 Christmas season, thanks to the Stuff the Cruiser event on Dec. 3 at Batavia Towne Center. As the name implies, the trunks of police vehicles were opened for people to place their donations inside, as shown in the photo below. 

An online post made by the department gave nods of credit for the "great work by the representatives of the Genesee County Probation Department, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, and the Genesee County Department of Social Services for their help in coordinating this event."

"And, of course, thank you to the community of Genesee County who made the extra effort through the gift of giving to local families in need," it stated. "These types of events are such a benefit to the community and we can't thank you enough!"

Top Photo: Members of Genesee County law enforcement and Social Services organize the generous donations from the 2022 Stuff the Cruiser collection, photo from GC Probation Department site. Above, file photo of Deputy Jordan Alejandro with the cruiser during the collection, by Howard Owens.

Genesee County Sheriff's Deputy Jordan Alejandro donned a raincoat Saturday for a wet, windy Stuff the Cruiser drive as part of a larger law enforcement effort that involves Genesee County Probation Department, City of Batavia Police Department, New York State Police and Department of Environmental Conservation, and Genesee County Department of Social Services.

The collection is for new toys, clothing, small denominations of gift cards, personal care gift sets, hats/gloves and accessories, and non-perishable food items, to be distributed to children and families in need this holiday season.

The drive goes to 3 p.m. today in front of Target and Kohl's in Batavia.

Top Photo of Deputy Jordan Alejandro with the cruiser; and passing out lists of needed items to shoppers. Photos by Howard Owens.

Press release:

With the holiday season upcoming, members of many different local police and community agencies have come together to collect gifts for underprivileged children up to age eighteen across Genesee County.

Representatives from the Genesee County Probation Department, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Batavia Police Department, the New York State Police, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Genesee County Department of Social Services will be collecting gifts in front of Target and Kohl’s in Batavia from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Commonly donated items are new toys, new clothing, small denomination gift cards, personal care gift sets, hats/gloves and accessories, and non-perishable food items. All items collected will stay in Genesee County and will be distributed to children and families in need this holiday season. 

Photo: File photo from 2019 by Howard Owens.

Sgt. Greg Kellogg, Le Roy PD, and troopers Ben Hersee, Stephanie Grimaldi and Bill Franz, show off some of the toys collected at Target today for the annual Stuff the Cruiser event.

Local law enforcement gathers for the event each year to collect donations for children who might not otherwise fund many presents under their Christmas trees. Besides Le Roy PD and State Police, participating this year were the Sheriff's Office, Batavia PD, Corfu PD, GC Probation Department, and the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Brooke Fisher, 5, drops off a toy with Le Roy PD Officer CJ Miller and Sgt. Thomas Sanfratello, Sheriff's Office.

Photo submitted by Greg Kellogg of the final haul of presents.

Multiple local law enforcement agencies* as well as the Rotary Club of Batavia will be attending to collect unwrapped toys, new clothing and nonperishable food to distribute back into Genesee County families in need this holiday season.

All donations stay in Genesee County.

*Participating local law enforcement agencies are: Village of Le Roy Police Department, Genesee County Probation Department, Genesee County Sheriff's Office, and City of Batavia Police Department.

Le Roy PD will be joined by New York State Police - Troop A in Batavia, New York State Environmental Conservation Police, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Batavia Police Department, Corfu Police Department, Genesee County Probation and Rotary International.

"Stuff the Cruiser" will take place 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Target parking lot at Towne Center at Batavia on Veterans Memorial Drive.

Bring unwrapped toys, new clothing and nonperishable foods to stuff in a police vehicle. This is a kid friendly event, fun for the whole family.