By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Up on the rooftop, reindeer pause. Out jumps good ol’ … Mark Shue.
Those are not quite the lyrics to the traditional Christmas song.
However, Salisbury Master Police Officer Mark Shue is on the rooftop of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and he’s collecting donations for Toys for Tots.
He’s asking people to bring new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations to the Krispy Kreme location on West Innes Street.
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year. The toys are distributed as Christmas gifts for needy children in the community.
Each patrol officer comes up with a community or patrol service project each year, and the toy collection was Shue’s project.
“I was lucky to get hooked up with Toys for Tots,” he said.
The Toys for Tots representative, Arbe Arbelaez, contacted the Salisbury Police department about participating. Shue knew he wanted to collect the toys but didn’t know how to distribute them. That’s where Arbelaez came in.
The officer was also sold on the idea that all the toys will go to children in Rowan County.
Shue said he knows the association of police officers and doughnuts, but he is willing to take the jokes if it means collecting toys for more children.
Shue went up on the roof at 5:30 a.m. Friday. He will spend 60 hours up there before coming down Sunday.
He won’t be by himself the entire time. His 21-year-old son, Hunter, will join him for part of the time. Hunter is an Apache crew chief in the Army, and he wants to be a police officer someday, also.
The two will camp out on the roof inside a tent, nestled in sleeping bags.
A Christmas tree is with them on the roof. Unfortunately, it took a spill earlier Friday in a high gust of wind and many of the ornaments were damaged. Shue is asking if anyone would like to donate ornaments, they can bring those by as well.
All monetary donations, including cash, checks and gift cards, will be turned over to the Toys for Tots program.
As of Friday afternoon, Shue had collected $800 and a patrol car full of toys.
“A lot of folks are reaching back to help,” he said.
The toys sat in the backseat of Shue’s patrol car.
The Salisbury Fire Department donated a ladder so the officer could get on and off the roof.
Krispy Kreme manager David Oakley was on board with the idea to have Shue atop the building while collecting donations. Other Krispy Kreme restaurants have participated in such fundraisers. Oakley told Shue he was glad to help.
“This is the first time I’d been able to do it,” he said.
The restaurant is even staying open 24 hours and offering incentives for donations.
– $5-$10 donations, free glazed doughnut.
– $11-$50 donations, one dozen glazed doughnuts.
– $51-$200 donations, three dozen glazed doughnuts.
– $201-$999 donations, 12 dozen glazed doughnuts.
– $1,000 or more donations, 25 dozen doughnuts.
Oakley explained it didn’t matter if someone donated cash or a gift that was valued at a specific amount, they would still be eligible to received the incentives.
Oakley said Toys for Tots officials have noted there is a great need for infant and teenage items.
Santa Claus will offer periodic visits throughout the weekend to provide support for volunteers and to encourage donations.
Shue will be on the roof through 6 p.m. Sunday. Krispy Kreme will be open 24 hours today.
For more information about the Marine Toys For Tots Foundation, visit www.toysfortots.org.