The Nashville Zoo will be hosting officers from the police department’s Mounted Unit this weekend as part of the annual toy drive partnership for the MNPD’s Christmas Basket Program. Zoo guests are invited to donate new toys for families in need this holiday season. As an added incentive, the zoo is offering complimentary admission tickets for every new toy donated (limit of two tickets per family).
Officers will collect the toys in the zoo’s parking lot during normal hours Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The zoo will have a retail cart with toys and plushes available so guests can have the opportunity to purchase a new toy on site and donate it to the drive. Children are also invited to drop off letters to Santa for the officers to deliver to the North Pole in time for Christmas.
The toy drive is part of the MNPD’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. Police officers will deliver the donated toys and food baskets to hundreds of homes on Christmas Eve morning.
Zoo admission is not required to donate toys. Toys should 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 2023.
