Cops, Kids & Toys

Holiday Gift Program
2024 Application

Verification process

• Schools in Tompkins County will be asked to help with verification for Cornell Elves and any other holiday gift programs. ALL children in a family need to be verified if there are any children in the family attending elementary school, as each elementary school has their own Cornell Elf criteria. If schools cannot aid Cops, Kids and Toys, this verification falls on the parents. If verification cannot be made, Cops, Kids and Toys will not be able to accept the application. Please note that Salvation Army and Toys for Tots, and Cops, Kids and Toys also verifies applicants, so that each family is served by one organization. 
  

• Parents of children attending private schools and living in Tompkins County will need to do their own verification. This verification will need to be done on official school letterhead and be signed by a school official. Without this verification, Cops, Kids and Toys will not be able to accept an application. Verification will also be made with the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots.
  

• For children that live in Tompkins County, but attend school outside of the county, the verification process lies strictly on the parents and must come to Cops, Kids and Toys on official school letterhead with signatures from a school guidance counselor/social worker, principal, or assistant principal. Without this verification, Cops, Kids and Toys will not be able to accept an application. If this verification is received, the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots will also be verified before an application can be fully accepted.

Pick-up location, dates & times

PICK-UP LOCATION: The Shops at Ithaca Mall, across from the Zocalo Restaurant. Please note this change in location.

2024 Pick Up Days

• Wednesday, Dec. 11: 9am - 3pm
• Thursday, Dec. 12: 10am - 6pm
• Friday, Dec. 13: 9am - 3pm
• Saturday, Dec. 14: 9am - 3pm

If an earlier time is needed please contact Cops, Kids and Toys at info@copskidsandtoys.org and we will do our best to meet your needs.

We strongly prefer that the applicant parent or custodial guardian pick up the gifts, so that as an organization, we know that the children will receive the gifts. It's also a way for the family to thank the volunteers that help to make the gifts available for the family asking for the help. 

We will allow grandparents or family workers to pick up gifts on a case-by-case basis with written and verbal consent from the applicant. The helps keep the process running smoothly and minimizes confusion.

With work schedules and transportation needs in mind, there are several pick-up days with longer time windows. When the gift pick-up days are over, we will be cleaning up and moving out of the donated space. We will not hold gifts after the pick-up day. We will not be distributing gifts before the pick up days begin.

Families with multiple children

Please read through the application carefully. There are enough spaces to accommodate a family with up to 5 children. If you have fewer than 5 children, please skip ahead to the next section. If you have more than 5 children, please email us at info@copskidsandtoys.org or text 607-262-4755, so that we can know this and can keep your family's gifts together. Please leave your first and last name and a phone number when communicating with us.

Kids' interests

Please provide us with interests for the children you're applying for. We do not purchase gift cards. We also do not purchase video games, gaming systems, and electronics. 

Best contact info

Please use the most current phone numbers and emails on your application. If there are questions regarding your application, we want to be able to contact you. If volunteers can't contact applicants, the application cannot be processed and will not be accepted. We normally call, text or email with questions. It really depends on the time of day we are working on applications and the type of question we have on how we connect with the parent. 

Confirming your application

A confirmation email will be sent out when your application has been tentatively accepted. Full acceptance comes after we have checked Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, and the child's school for participation in other holiday gift giving organizations.

Remember, children who are being served by other organizations cannot also be served by Cops, Kids and Toys. Each application will receive the same scrutiny, and we apologize if the school is unwilling to work with us. We will notify families if their application has been denied when we are through with checking other organizations and schools.

If you do not hear back from us, after the initial email notifying you of preliminary acceptance, you're most likely being served by us, but feel free to call or email and check that this is the case. We will only contact you with questions and to let you know if you are denied. If you are accepted, the email confirmation of the application will suffice as approval and you can come to the pick-up times.

No notification of incomplete forms

We will NOT be notifying families of incomplete forms. Due to the high volume of applications, we can only look at applications that are completely filled out. We encourage you to complete the application in one sitting, as it is the best way to ensure that your application is submitted on time and ready for Cops, Kids and Toys to verify. 

Apply for just one program!

Remember, you can only apply for ONE PROGRAM that provides holiday gifts! That means if you are applying to Cornell Elves, Toys for Tots, and the Salvation Army for holiday gifts for your children, you cannot also receive gifts from Cops, Kids & Toys.

That said, if your family is only receiving food from the Salvation Army, you are still eligible for holiday gifts from Cops, Kids and Toys.

Unverified applications will be denied. Cops, Kids and Toys will do its best to notify families by email that their application has not been accepted. Please remember that if your children's schools are unwilling to work with Cops, Kids and Toys for verification, we will not be able to approve your application.

Families with children attending schools outside of Tompkins County will need to provide Cops, Kids and Toys with a letter of verification on official school email or letterhead that your children are not already being served by Cornell Elves or another school related holiday gift program before the application deadline of December 1, 2024. We regret that we cannot make exceptions to this policy. 

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