PANAMA CITY BEACH — Chances to help Bay County’s less fortunate children will be plentiful over the next week.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Panama City Beach Police Department will each be collecting toys and games at various locations to go toward the needy children of Bay County Saturday through Dec. 6.
Harley-Davidson of Panama City Beach will hold a toy drive for the Bay County Sheriff’s Office children’s charity, Project 25, called “Blacker Saturday Cruise-In” that takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In 1980, several Bay County Sheriff’s deputies started Project 25 for the purpose of collecting and purchasing Christmas toys for underprivileged children.
“There is nothing like the face of a child with gifts under a tree on Christmas morning; the memory will last their lifetime,” said Sheriff Frank McKeithen.
Guests who bring in one new, unwrapped toy or game will be registered for in-store drawings to win a variety of special Harley-Davidson gifts.
At lunchtime, World Class Athletics, a local gym at the Beach, will sell a barbecue lunch and holiday treats prepared by the children; all proceeds will benefit the gym’s youth programs. Jace Smith will entertain with his acoustic holiday rock music, and at 1 p.m. the Panama City Classic Cruisers will hold their Fall Cruise-In at Harley, filling the parking lot. All classic cars, hot rods and antiques are welcome to come join the fun that afternoon.
Harley-Davidson will also be the site of the 20th Annual Cops ’n’ Kids Toy Run for PCBPD the following day. Registration is Sunday 9 to 11 a.m. Kickstands go up at 11 a.m., with coffee and pastries available. However, Sunday won’t be the first or last chance to donate to the Cops ‘n’ Kids program.
PCBPD is partnering with Florida Watersports for a 2014 Christmas Toy Drive. Today through Dec. 6 in the Target parking lot at Pier Park there will be a designated area for donating new and unwrapped toys. The toys will be delivered to families in need this holiday year and can be dropped off 24 hours a day.