Metro Nashville Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Division will collect donated toys for its annual Christmas Basket Program on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8 at Nashville Zoo. As an added incentive, the Zoo is offering a complimentary Zoo admission ticket for every new toy donated (limit two tickets per person, not applicable for Zoolumination).
Metro police officers will collect the toys in the Zoo’s parking lot from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Kids are invited to drop off letters to Santa Claus for the officers to deliver to the North Pole in time for Christmas. Horses from the Mounted Patrol Division will also be available for guests to meet. Located next to the toy drive, the Zoo will offer a selection of toys that guests can purchase for the purpose of donating to the toy drive.
The toy drive is part of the Metro Police Department’s 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. 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 2020. Guests must be present to receive complimentary Zoo admission tickets.