Chief Newman, head of Security and Emergency Management for Hillsborough County Schools, said the department selected 15 district schools to receive $1,000 each this holiday season to buy toys and gifts for students.

“Each year ... we pick 15 schools to donate a thousand dollars a piece to,” Chief Newman said. “So today was our first day of toy giveaway shopping for the schools that we chose.” He said many officers who work inside schools have personal relationships with guidance counselors, behavior specialists and students on campus and see the donations as an opportunity to help families who are less fortunate.

A school staff member in the district described the program as a relief for families during a time that can be stressful. “Having this opportunity to be gifted to our school community where we can afford every student in our early childhood program a gift is really exciting,” the staff member said. They added the donation can “shed a little bit of joy in their lives this holiday season” when at-home circumstances may be bleak.

The district security unit’s annual contribution — $1,000 per school for 15 schools, a total of $15,000 — was described as a way to support counselors and staff who identify students in need. The district representative said this was the first day of shopping for the selected schools’ giveaways.

District officials did not specify the exact number of students who will receive gifts in each school or the funding source line-item beyond attribution to the security department’s program.