STEUBEN COUNTY, N.Y. (WENY) -- Winter coats and new toys may seem like a simple thing to some but, for others, it can mean a lot. On Saturday, December 7, members of the Steuben County Sheriff's Office will host “Toys for Tots Fill the Patrol Car” and “Coats for Kids."

This weekend will mark the 5th Annual “Toys for Tots Fill the Patrol Car” and “Coats for Kids" events at the Erwin Walmart Plaza. It will be running from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard says he was approached several years ago to help out with Toys for Tots with the promise that the toys would stay within the county. He says it was a unique opportunity that doesn't happen often and he saw it as a great way to serve those in need in his community. From there, it was an easy answer of 'Yes.'

In addition to the toys, the Sheriff's Office also hosts a children's coat drive.

Over the course of the last five years, Sheriff Allard says the program has really grown. Last year, the Sheriff's Office collected over 200 coats and distributed them to the 12 school districts across Steuben County. From there, school nurses and counselors can pick out the coats they know they need for students and get them where they need to go, ensuring the warmth and safety of many kids in need.

"It's important because, again, we're a large rural county and we have a lot of folks that are at or below the poverty line and we have a lot of folks that are making it but can use that extra boost, a little bit of help," said Sheriff Allard, "...It's very gratifying to see and I often talk about -- you'll see folks pull up in cars that aren't the newest cars and you can tell they don't have a whole lot of extra money and typically they're the ones that give the most."

If you would like to donate, the deputies will be taking new and unwrapped toys as well as new and gently used coats, hats, mittens, and scarves.

For those who can't make the events this weekend and may still want to help, Sheriff Allard says you can drop the toys off at any of the Toys for Tots boxes in the county. If you want to donate to their drive specifically, you can use the box at the Steuben County Sheriff's Office or at the county office building.

Additionally, you can give toys to any deputy you may encounter out in public.