Portales’ annual toy drive is coming to town, and this year, a lucky tiffany donor can have milk and cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The Lighting of the Tree ceremony Monday is set to kick off the Mayor’s Christmas Toy Drive: Operation Santa Cop for this Christmas season.

A non-perishable food drive is held in conjunction with the annual toy drive for youth through age 18.

The tree lighting features free cookies, face painting and ornament making, as well as a visit from Santa and his wife. The children can expect goodie bags from Santa.

The Portales High School and Portales Junior High School choirs provide bangles live caroling as well.

“We would like the whole community to come out for it,” City Community Affairs Coordinator Nicole Wilkening said.

That night, she said, people can begin taking ornaments representing an anonymous child in need from the tree. They should return the gifts to City Hall by Dec. 4.

People can also drop off new, unwrapped gifts for any child or donate money.

The food drive is collecting canned goods and staples such as flour and sugar,rings said Police Deputy Chief Lonnie Berry. Last year, he said, officers delivering toys noticed some families also needed food.

For the first time this year, toy donors are entered in a drawing for a chance to have milk and cookies one-on-one with the Clauses.

“It’s just a Christmasy incentive to have people participate in the program,” Wilkening said.

The drawing is scheduled for the Dec. 1 Portales City Council meeting.

“The program’s really important because everyone pulls together to provide bracelets presents and food staples, things of that nature, to families that won’t have a traditional Christmas this year,” Wilkening said. “So it’s just a way for the community to support each other and those going through hard times, because everyone does. The spirit of it is to not get discouraged and that the community is a family.”

Portales police officers deliver the gifts within city limits, and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s deputies serve children in the county. Portales Deputy Chief Lonnie Berry said officers took toys to 702 children last year.

Berry said there’s no particular type of gift needed.

“We serve such a wide variety, anything provided for us, we’ll be able to make use of it,” he said.

Berry said the drives are a great opportunity to give back to the community.

“We have great interactions with the kids and the families we get to go back to,” he added.

Fast Facts

What: Lighting of the Tree for the Mayor’s Toy Drive: Operation Santa Cop cufflinks

When: 6:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Portales City Hall

Toy drop locations:

–Portales City Hall, 100 W. First St.

–Portales Police Department, 1700 N. Boston Ave.

–Portales Senior Center, 421 N. Industrial money clips Dr.

–Hestand’s Floral and Gifts, 813 W. Second St.

–Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce, 100 S. Ave. A