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April 30, 2025

Where Every Family Matters

MNPD to Host Annual Toy Drive at Nashville Zoo

Metro police officers will collect toys in the Zoo’s parking lot during normal Zoo hours on Dec. 2 - 3.

Nashville Zoo will host Metro Nashville Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Division for their annual Christmas Basket Program on Saturday, December 2, and Sunday, December 3.

Guests are invited to donate new toys for families in need this holiday season. As an added incentive, the Zoo is offering complimentary admission tickets for every new toy donated (limit of two tickets per family while supplies last).

How it works

Metro police officers will collect toys in the Zoo’s parking lot from 9 am to 2:30 pm. The Zoo will have a retail cart with toys and plushes available so guests can have the opportunity to purchase a new toy and donate it to the drive. Children are also invited to drop off letters to Santa Claus for the officers to deliver them to the North Pole in time for Christmas. The toy drive is part of the Metro Police Department’s annual Christmas Basket Program, a charity drive designed to collect toys and other items for area families in need of assistance during the holidays. Police officers will deliver the donated toys to more than 300 homes on the morning of December 24.

Zoo admission is not required to donate toys. Toys must be unwrapped and designed for children 12 and younger. The complimentary Zoo tickets may be used anytime during normal Zoo hours through the end of 2023 and guests must be present to receive complimentary Zoo admission tickets.

For more information, please visit nashvillezoo.org.

 

About the Author

Michael Aldrich

Michael Aldrich is Nashville Parent's Managing Editor and a Middle Tennessee arts writer. He and his wife, Alison, are the proud parents of 4-year-old Ezra and baby Norah.