"It was so random," the lieutenant told Daily Voice. "I couldn't understand why he needed a box for police work."
His colleague explained it was going to serve as a drop-off location for donations to the annual Bergen County PBA Toy Drive.
Pierotti and the other officers were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community, as the box was overflowing with toys.
The toy drive has grown exponentially from that one box now that the department is in its third year of collecting for both the Bergen County drive and local ailing or needy children.
And Pierotti owes it all to the people.
"Without help from the community, we’re nothing," said the officer, of Park Ridge.
"It has morphed into this amazing thing in our town, and it all started with Don Nicoletti and the Bergen County PBA Toy Drive."
The county-wide drive brings gifts to ailing children at The Valley Hospital and Hackensack University Medical Center, along with local families in need.
The Fairview police work with the school district to help find families who could use the extra holiday cheer.
The Fairview Police Department is holding a Chipotle fundraiser on Dec. 11, to go toward its holiday cause. Between 4 and 9 p.m., anyone who mentions the Fairview Police Department at the Chipotle in Edgewater will have funds from their meal donated back to the community.
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