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Parents and guardians needing assistance with gifts for their children this holiday season can register for the 2026 Cops for Kids program beginning this Monday, Oct. 26, and Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The Lakeland Police Department (LPD) program, in its 20th year, provides Christmas presents to children 12 and under who live within city limits.
The program started small in 2007, providing gifts to 30 to 40 children. “Over the years, it’s grown tremendously,” said Cindy Sharp, supervisor of LPD’s Community Services Unit. Now, according to Sharp, the department provides toys to around 400 kids each year — thousands since the program began.
In December, children receive their gifts along with a takeaway dinner. Sharp said the Grinch will help hand out gifts in 2026.
The program intends to strengthen relationships between LPD and children and families in need, according to Sharp. “Our police love our kids in the community, and it’s all about building those positive relationships,” she said. “We care about them. We’re here to serve them.”
Parents and guardians must show proof of their Lakeland address with a current Lakeland Electric bill and matching photo ID when applying. They are required to bring an original birth certificate for each child to verify their age.
How to Register
When and Where
Monday, Oct. 26
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
Lakeland Police Department
219 North Massachusetts Ave.
Tuesday, Oct. 27
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
Simpson Park
1725 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
Required Documents
- Current Lakeland Electric Bill (applicants must have a Lakeland address)
- Photo ID
- Original birth certificate for each child
Parents and guardians can specify a child’s special needs on their application.
Registration does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Those who received gifts in the previous two years are ineligible.
Made possible by community support
Businesses and individuals in Lakeland donate toys and funds to sustain the program. Toys are matched with children based on their ages, and LPD officers shop for additional gifts.
“Our donors come from Lakeland, so we want to keep all their money here in Lakeland to serve our Lakeland families,” Sharp said. “The city doesn’t provide any monies for this program.”
She said they hope to be able to provide for children and families who otherwise might not have gifts for Christmas. The number of children they can provide for is based on the amount donated each year.
“The support that we have from our community is just amazing,” Sharp said. “Without them, we couldn’t do this for these families.”
Sharp said that the department is open to donations now, and they will place donation boxes around the city in early November. She said the boxes will be at city sites, including the Lakeland Police Department.
“This is one of our favorite, favorite programs because we are helping our families,” Sharp said. “We are making sure these children have a Christmas.”
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