VIDEO: Bloomfield Santa, Cops Bring Sick Child ‘Sold Out’ Toy

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — It’s challenging enough to find one of the holiday season’s hottest toys. But when the gift is on the wish list of an eight-year-old girl with cancer, there’s no way you’re going to end up empty-handed.

As part of its annual toy drive – now in its 20th year – the Bloomfield Police Department recently distributed more than 300 gifts to local children for 2016.

But when officers learned that one little girl – Jordan – wouldn’t be able to attend the toy drive due to her battle with cancer, they decided to take the extra step and make sure that the eight-year-old got the two top items on her list… a Leggo set and a Hatchimals egg.

Officers found the Leggo set at the Paramus Toys R Us. But the virtually sold-out Hatchimals egg – one of this season’s hottest toys – proved to be more of a challenge.

Bloomfield Lieutenant George Ricci told Patch that the Hatchimal was “virtually impossible” to find at any store in the area. But finally, he struck pay dirt via a social media message.

“I saw a post on Facebook from a friend saying that a friend of hers was selling one for $150,” Ricci said. “I called her and asked if I could purchase it. We didn’t care that it was so expensive because we wanted to make sure that this child got what she really wanted for Christmas. I explained the story to [my friend] who she said that she would contact the seller… luckily no one had bought it yet.”

Ricci said that once the seller learned the item was for a sick child she immediately offered to donate it.

On Monday, Ricci along with Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia, Police Director Samuel DeMaio, Santa Claus and some of his elves, delivered the gifts to Jordan, her brother and sister.

Watch a video of their visit below, courtesy of the BPD.

Photos: Bloomfield Police Department

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