As the holiday season approaches, police and fire agencies in the area are making final preparations for their charitable efforts.

The Bowling Green Fraternal Order of Police cut back on some of its other efforts to maintain the size of its Thanksgiving and Christmas food basket programs because of lower giving levels this year, said Shawn Helbig, president of the local FOP chapter.

“We could really use any cash donations,” he said.

The FOP has already received all the donations for dry foods it needs for the baskets, Helbig said. The only remaining items are the fresh foods that they purchase from Houchens Industries at a discounted rate.

“These are the primary efforts we do for the community each year,” Helbig said.

To provide as many food baskets to area needy as possible, the FOP plans to cut back in areas such as its scholarship fund and sponsorships, he said.

Donations to FOP efforts can be sent to P.O. Box 1933, Bowling Green, KY 42102.

The Bowling Green Fire Department is working with Toys for Tots to collect new toys that will be delivered to needy children on Christmas Day, said Marlee Boenig, spokeswoman for the fire department.

“The toys will be delivered on the fire truck with Santa,” she said.

The children who receive the toys are selected by Toys for Tots - the fire department is not involved in the selection, Boenig said.

The new toys can be dropped off at any of the Bowling Green fire stations, she said.

The Bowling Green Firefighters Association is also taking donations for its yearly effort to buy clothing and toys for needy children. Cash donations for that effort can be left at any of the city’s fire stations, Boenig said.

In the first year of its Shop with a Cop program, the Morgantown Police Department raised around $3,400 that will go toward helping 50 underprivileged children, said Chief Billy Phelps.

The money was raised during four “road block” efforts where officers stood in the streets collecting money and through a few donations from Morgantown businesses, he said.

The department is still taking donations of children’s shoes and coats, Phelps said.

“We’re also still looking for cash donations,” he said. “A local business, Pamida, has agreed to give us 20 percent off one day in December. So we’re going to take all the kids there and let them pick out a pair of shoes and or a coat, along with a couple of toys.”

There also will be a dinner for the children at the store, Phelps said. Each child will be allowed to pick out about $60 in items.

Anyone who wants to make a donation for this effort can do so at Morgantown City Hall, he said. They will accept checks designated for the Shop with a Cop program.