NEWS RELEASE
City of Carbondale, Illinois
November 3, 2026
For Immediate Release
CARBONDALE – The City of Carbondale Police Department will host its 25th annual Community Christmas Store for Carbondale residents beginning on December 7th, 2026. The program benefits families with children from ages 1 year old to 10 years old and who are not receiving gifts from other agencies.  The store will be held at the police department, and parents who sign up for the program are able to shop for new toys for their children. Parents will also be gifted a new coat and a new pair of shoes for their children.  All items in the store are purchased through donations to the program and through the coat drive at SIU Basketball games. The SIU Athletics Department will have coat donation boxes at every home basketball game this season! Any size winter coat is appreciated!

To sign up for the program, please contact our Community Service Officers at 618-457-3200 Ext: 455 beginning today, November 3, 2026. The number of items available at the store will be determined by the amount of donations received, so parents are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible!

The police department is very proud to be able to give back to our community and assist Carbondale families in need.  We would also like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the many local businesses and people who have donated toys, monetary donations, or other items to the program.  Without this support, this Community Christmas Store would not be possible. Any person or business interested in contributing to the program can contact Elizabeth Sears at 618-457-3200 Ext: 447.

The mission of the Carbondale Police Department is to work in partnership with our community to preserve life, protect human rights, protect property and improve quality of life by providing police service to all in a fair, sensitive, and professional manner.