Deputies help deliver Christmas

Since $20,000 in toys for needy children were reported stolen two weeks ago, the Hancock County Sheriff's Office has been hunting down the thief. On Monday, the sheriff's office took its efforts on behalf of kids to the next level: For the next two weeks, it will keep its lobby open 24/7, allowing anyone to place toy donations in Toys for Tots boxes situated near a Christmas tree. Sheriff's office employees also will be donating toys in a Toys for Tots box in their own break room. In addition, monetary donations were made to Toys for Tots by the Hancock County Special Deputies Organization, $750; and YIELD (Young Individuals Educating In Local Drivers), $500. Deputies are closing in on the person who stole about 2,000 toys for the charity from a storage shed. "We're following up leads as we go. At the present time, we haven't named the specific suspect at this point," Sheriff Michael Heldman said. "We're hoping to come up with something very shortly." But deputies have been moved to act beyond their official roles. "You think about the kids in the community," Heldman said, crediting his deputies with developing the idea. "It's something that we felt the needy kids of this community need to have a Christmas, and this is one way that the sheriff's office can help support that." "I'd like to encourage the citizens of Findlay and Hancock County to do their part in supporting Toys for Tots this year," he added. Then he offered some instructions. "Our lobby will be open 24/7. (Citizens) come to the front door. If it's locked, they can get the intercom. The door can be unlocked (remotely by a sheriff's employee) and they can bring in and make their donations, right next to the Christmas tree," Heldman said. Donations will be accepted at the sheriff's office and 125 other locations around Hancock County through mid-December. The toys which were stolen had been obtained last December and stored since then by Toys for Tots. The group obtains the brand-new toys either through in-kind donations or purchases them with donated funds. The organization then distributes the toys to Salvation Army, CHOPIN Hall, Hope House, Specialized Alternatives for Families & Youth of Ohio, churches and others, which then distribute the toys to children. "I want to thank everyone who has stepped up here in Hancock County and southern Wood County to help us recuperate some of those toys that we've lost," said Larry Devilvis, coordinator of Toys for Tots of Hancock County and Southern Wood County. "It's going pretty well. We'll start passing out toys this week and into next week." "We're going to make this happen for these kids no matter what happens," he said. According to the agency's website, 5,597 toys were distributed in Findlay in 2020.