WHEELING — Local law enforcement will again be joining together to make Christmas a little brighter for local children this year.

The Wheeling Police Department and the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department are once again teaming up for the ninth annual “Operation Toy Lift.” The event is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Ohio Valley Mall in the area near Ulta and Ferguson Furniture.

Those driving nearby Interstate 70 on Saturday may notice the hydraulic lifts outside the mall and wonder what is happening, and that is the intent, explained Philip Stahl, information officer for the Wheeling Police Department.

The hope is that many people will stop by and donate toys to be distributed to children this Christmas season.

“This is an event where we are able to coordinate with the Belmont County Sheriff and collect toys for infants to teens in a relaxed, fun-filled setting,” Stahl said.

“All the toys are collected throughout the day, then they will be distributed throughout the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley’s service area. They take the reins to make sure we complete the mission by brightening a child’s Christmas.”

He added Christmas “doesn’t stop at a certain age” and toys are needed not just for toddlers, but infants and teenagers, as well.

Belmont County Sheriff James Zusack described “Operation Toy Lift” as “a fun day collecting toys for kids at Christmas.”

“Any help we can get is appreciated,” he said. “We ask people to come out and donate what they can.”

The law enforcement officers involved see that “working together helps out a lot of kids, and that’s the important thing,” according to Zusack.

“It puts us in a different light,” he said. “We like doing stuff like that. It’s a good feeling, and in law enforcement you don’t always have good feelings. We deal with the worst of the worst.

“We’re just happy to be making kids happy. It makes you feel warm.”

Zusack is among those slated to go up on the lifts, which are being provided by American Electric Power. It won’t be his first time going up in the air.

“I’m not scared of heights,” he explained. “I just wave at people. It’s neat, though sometimes it is as cold as it can be — especially with the wind.

“Sometimes people see us and bring toys back. That’s the key to this.”

Happenings at Operation Toy Lift begin at 9:30 a.m. with a small parade around the exterior of the mall featuring Santa Claus. There are two lifts — one which will lift up personalities from West Virginia, and one with residents living on the Ohio side of the river.

Santa Claus will go up in the first bucket representing West Virginia at 10 a.m., while Belmont County Commissioner Vince Gianangeli will go up on the Ohio side.

Others set to go up in the air are Mark Zyla with the Wheeling Symphony; Robert Thomas, Thomas Jeep Eagle; Annalese Murphy, WTRF; Tim Hall, Cumberland Trail Fire Department; Romeo Tan, West Virginia First Foundation; Jack Gilman, North Star Polaris; Wheeling Fire Department Chief Jim Blazier; St. Clairsville Police Chief Matt Arbenz; Wheeling City Council member Connie Cain; Rachel Dietrich, Belmont Savings Bank; Howard Karnell, WesBanco Arena; Corie Trigg, Belmont Savings Bank; Deputy Chief Terry Walls, Wheeling Police Department; Steven Moore, WTRF; members of the Wheeling Nailers; Sam from the Sam and Otis Show; Belmont County Chief Deputy Glenn Moore; Louie the Lightning Bug, AEP; Zusack; and representatives from the West Virginia and Ohio schools collecting the most for Operation Toy Lift.

In addition to getting raised on the lift, each winning school also will receive a trophy.

Stahl noted the event will feature music, law enforcement cruisers and a drive through delivery station for donated toys.

“You don’t even have to get out of your car,” he said. “Volunteers will remove the toys, load them into our trucks and take them to where they will be stored.”

Monetary donations also will be accepted, he said. Checks submitted should be made out to the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley, with “Toy Lift” written in the memo.

For law enforcement officers participating, it is “a good opportunity to showcase we’re not just out there giving tickets and investigating cases,” Stahl continued.

“We do care about everybody we serve,” he said. “It’s a great way to talk to the officers, get to know each other and also get to know each other under lighter circumstances.

“Over the past years we have always satisfactorily completed our mission. ‘Operation Toy Lift’ has been successful,” Stahl added.