With the “thanks” portion of Thanksgiving literally under our belts, many of us move on to the giving half the holiday heralds in.

Food drives are in full force as are toy drives, a collection and donation effort near and dear to local public safety agencies.

Among them are the Cape Coral Fire and Police departments as well as the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

The CCFD is accepting new toys, gifts and gift cards at all 11 fire stations throughout the city beginning today.

Unwrapped donations for children of all ages — that’s from birth through 17 — are being accepted through Dec. 13 at collection boxes at the following fire stations:

* Station 1, 4610 Coronado Parkway

* Station 2, 701 Nicholas Parkway

* Station 3, 1627 Everest Parkway

* Station 4, 2007 Santa Barbara Blvd.

* Station 5, 1029 Diplomat Parkway

* Station 6, 4540 Chiquita Parkway

* Station 7, 3942 Burnt Store Road, N.

* Station 8, 707 S.W. 1st St.

* Station 9, 4107 Pelican Blvd.

* Station 10, 3623 Gator Circle, W.

* Station 11, 1038 Burnt Store Road, N.

There also will be a drop box in City Hall at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.

Gifts for teens are often in short supply and are especially welcome.

The CCPD, meanwhile, will hold its 15th annual Fill the Boat Toy Drive the first weekend in December.

CCPD will collect new unwrapped toys for children in Cape Coral at the Walmart Supercenter at 1619 Del Prado Blvd., S.

Donation dates are:

* Friday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

* Saturday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

* Sunday, Dec. 5, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office, meanwhile, is conducting its toy drive on behalf of the Children’s Advocacy Center of SWFL this year.

Here in the Cape, unwrapped toys for children 17 and younger can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Cape Coral Community Outreach Center at the Brotherhood of Heroes Resource Center & Museum, at 4522 Del Prado Blvd., S. until Thursday, Dec. 2.

While not a toy drive, the Florida Highway Patrol also conducts a collection drive this time of the year.

FHP partners with a network of local resources whose mission is to deliver much-needed food and educate the community in the fight against hunger. FHP began collecting food donations for families on Nov. 1 and will continue to accept donations through Nov. 30.

FHP is accepting non-perishable food donations at each troop headquarters across the state including their office at 10041 Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers.

Recommended items include canned meats (ham, chicken, tuna); canned vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, corn and green beans; canned fruits and pantry items such as stuffing, boxed potatoes, rice, cornbread mix, grits and oatmeal, nuts, evaporated milk, soups and broths.

We understand that for many of us, money continues to be tight and cost of necessities — food, rent, fuel, transportation — has become cumbersomely high.

But for those who can, the purchase of an extra Black Friday toy or two, a gift card or the donation of extra sundries purchased for Thanksgiving and then set aside when Aunt Emma decided to bring her famous casserole after all, can make a difference — a big difference — to a family in need.

— Breeze editorial