South Portland Police Officer Rocco Navarro packages toys Dec. 10 at Maine Roofing for the South Portland Christmas Toy Drive. The annual drive is a partnership between the Police Department, South Portland Police Patrolmen’s Association, city schools, Maine Roofing, Evelyn’s Tavern, Port Harbor Marine, Local Acapulco Tanning and the Mill Creek branch of People’s United Bank. (Jocelyn Van Saun / The Forecaster)

South Portland Police Officers Philip Longanecker, left, and Rocco Navarro, volunteers Barbara Sullivan, Lynn Kopack, Billy Darling, Kathy Hurley, Debbie Welsh, event organizer Liz Darling, Lt. Frank Clark and Chief Edward Googins were at Maine Roofing first thing Monday morning to organize and pack toys and clothing for the seventh annual South Portland Christmas Toy Drive. This year’s drive will benefit 228 local children and families in need.  (Jocelyn Van Saun / The Forecaster)

By 11 a.m. Dec. 10, toys and clothes were bagged and ready to be delivered to South Portland’s nine schools by local police officers. Event organizer Liz Stallings, of Maine Roofing, said she was once again overwhelmed by the generosity of South Portland. “You don’t expect it. You’d think we’re just a regular blue-class community, but there are so many people in need,” she said. “South Portland is such a generous community.” (Jocelyn Van Saun / The Forecaster)


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