Another year, another truckload of toys donated for Arciero’s Sun Santa, Toys for Tots event

Published on December 14, 2025 by The Lowell Sun

LITTLETON — As a nearly endless stream of cars flowed past the back of the Littleton Police Department Saturday, a pile of toys grew in the back of a moving truck as donations came in for The Sun Santa Fund and Toys for Tots.

The donations were brought to the police station for the annual drive-in & drop-off event hosted by state Rep. Jim Arciero and Police Chief Matthew Pinard each year to collect toys and funds so financially struggling families can have a proper holiday meal, and so kids in those families can receive Christmas gifts.

Arciero has been collecting donations for The Sun Santa fund every year for 16 years now, and since 2020 he has done so in partnership with Pinard and the Littleton Police Department.

“We just have such a great model that works very well. … We’ve really brought the community in the region together. People from Westford, Littleton, Chelmsford. Matt and I have really worked hard at this every year to make it a success,” Arciero said Saturday.

“There has been a lot of excitement for this event, and we are really excited to get toys out to kids in need all across the region, and it is a tradition that the chief and I have really created a great momentum for here,” he said later.

Pinard highlighted the number of private companies, like AG Landscaping and Christopher’s Towing, that show up each year to support the event, especially with the level of need being experienced by families in recent years.

“There is a definitely a need. It is something we have to step up for in public service in order to help out,” said Pinard.

Lowell Sun Charities President Kevin Coughlin called the event “a blend of all the good things going on in the community.”

“We have the giving of donations that are going to help people throughout the region to give toys and have a good Christmas for everyone, and we have mentoring and community service. We have the Westford Academy basketball team here today, and we can see the really good side of their community through their generosity,” said Coughlin.

As he spoke, a dump truck from AG Landscaping was being emptied of donated toys by the young basketball players, who moved them to a moving truck that was quickly running out of space.

“These are amazing Christmas stories and holiday presents here for everyone. We are very fortunate and we thank everyone who contributes each year,” said Coughlin.

The Sun and Lowell Sun Charities have a proud history of serving the Greater Lowell community. Lowell Sun Charities was established in 1947 with a basic mission to support local charitable causes. The charity identified another need in 1988: Many local families were struggling to provide Christmas gifts for their children and to put a holiday meal on their table. From that need, The Sun Santa Fund was founded.

Sun Santa provides assistance to local families in the 23 communities served by The Sun. Applications for assistance are processed by our agency partners, The Salvation Army and Community Teamwork. Families receive toy and food vouchers based on their financial need and family size. Toy vouchers are redeemable at Walmart in Tewksbury. Food vouchers are accepted at all Market Basket stores. Through the generosity of the local community, Sun Santa raises the funds to directly support this voucher system.

Sun Santa’s donors come from many walks of life, from public officials to local banks and businesses, to children who are learning about kindness and generosity through fundraising drives at their schools.

Thanks to this hard work and donor support, we have always met our goal.  Every dollar matters, and no gift is too small. Secure online donations can be made at lowellsun.com/sunsanta, or by mail to The Sun Santa Fund, PO Box 2439, Lowell, MA 01851.

All donations are listed in The Sun’s print and online publications. Groups donating $500 or more are welcome to submit a digital photo that will be printed in The Sun on a space-available basis. Donation photos from area schools for a contribution of any amount will be printed in the newspaper, as space is available.