Santa’s Toyland and Holiday with Heroes are joining forces this year to ensure no Kingfisher County child is left out during the holiday season.

Sponsored by Kingfisher Community Collaborative, Santa’s Toyland is an all-volunteer project more than 30 years old.

It provides Christmas gifts to families struggling to make ends meet financially.

In its seventh year, Holiday with Heroes, formerly Christmas with Cops, also offers the opportunity for children to select gifts for themselves and for family members within their household.

The program is sponsored by Kingfi sher Police and Fire Departments, the Kingfisher Sheriff’s Department and the women’s auxiliaries.

Though the programs operate separately, families can now apply for either program (but not both) through one online application.

This partnership not only streamlines the process ensuring services aren’t duplicated, but should also help increase the number of applicants for Holiday with Heroes, KPD Police Chief Travis Gray said.

Applicants must meet minimum income requirements and proof of income for the last 60 days is required, Santa’s Toyland Coordinator Brittney Hladik said.

Kingfisher County children and youth from birth to 18 years of age can apply for Santa’s Toyland and Holiday with Heroes will select 17 students in Kingfisher Public Schools between the ages of 9 and 13 to participate in its program.

The deadline to apply is Dec. 8. Individuals can request a printed application at City Hall if they are unable to access the online form, but the online application is preferred if possible, said Hladik.

Santa’s Toyland will be held Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the Kingfisher County MACenter and children will have the opportunity to receive stockings, stocking stuffers and an age-appropriate gift.

A community service for Kingfisher County families for many years, Hladik said last year Santa’s Toyland served 240 children (80 families).

Holiday with Heroes will host its event Saturday, Dec. 13.

Officers, deputies and firemen will meet with the children at the fairgrounds, where they will get to ride in a squad car to the store to select their gifts.

Once all the shopping is done, everyone will return to the fairgrounds for a gift-wrapping party and then the children will take their gifts home to be opened on Christmas Day, Captain Dustin Brodrick said.

No photos or names of the children will be posted on social media, Brodrick ensured.

In 2023, Brodrick said the program provided gifts to 10 children and 35 of their household members.

“The look on the kids’ faces and the joy they get out of it is unexplainable,” Brodrick said.

Many of the children enjoy being able to get gifts for their parents and siblings as much or more than for themselves, he said.

He recalled how one young girl spent threefourths of her allocated funds on family members before even thinking about gifts for herself.

“That really tugs at your heart,” Brodrick added.

Holiday with Heroes is able to fund its efforts through donations, its t-shirt and sweatshirt fundraisers and a firearm raffle.

Donations can be dropped off at the KPD and information regarding its fundraisers can be found on the KPD and KFD Facebook pages.

“The community support has been great and we couldn’t do it without all the businesses and other donations,” Brodrick said.

“It is very much appreciated.”

Santa’s Toyland also operates through generous community support and accepts monetary contributions and toy donations, which can be delivered to City Hall, Hladik said.

“Times are tough and there’s a huge need, especially considering the government shutdown right now,” she said.

“The community support has always been fabulous and everyone really comes together for us.”

Eligible families can submit an application online using the QR Code below (also available on KCC, KPD and KFD Facebook pages) or by visiting https:// bit.ly/2024Toyland For more information or questions contact Hladik at City Hall (405-375-3705).