A handcuffed Grinch was briefly placed in the back of a Medford police car on Tuesday. After a change of heart, he negotiated his release.

A green Dr. Seuss character known for his heart two sizes too small could never outshine the bighearted community efforts to give hundreds of Southern Oregon children and youths whose parents are in the court system something special to open on Christmas morning.

Two candy apple red Ram pickup trucks were filled with skateboards, stuffed animals, games and more Tuesday morning and given a Medford Police Department escort alongside Santa and Mrs. Claus as part of a CASA Giving Tree toy run through downtown Medford.

Every nook and cranny of the two trucks were packed with presents outside Lithia’s Medford headquarters — overflowing with toys and gifts from the rear truck bed, filling the back seats and occupying the RamBox storage bins above the rear fenders.

Prior to the loadup, Jennifer Mylenek, the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates or CASA of Jackson and Josephine County, was moved by the sight of roughly 70 large gift and shopping bags beneath the Christmas tree at the corporate office on North Bartlett Street.

The presents filled a sizable portion of the lobby. Mylenek said the presents are going to give children in their programs “normalizing” holiday experiences they would not have otherwise had.

“It makes you feel good on all levels,” Mylenek said at the sight. “We as CASAs get to give kids a good Christmas.”

CASA volunteers represent children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect while their parents are in the court system. Mylenek said that to ensure the volunteers got kids’ presents to them well before the Christmas holiday, they had to work with a seemingly early deadline this year.

Partner agencies, including Lithia4Kids, Jackson County Circuit Court staff and MPD, stepped up to help.

Erin Carpenter, CASA’s development and media manager, estimated that about 400 children and youths in CASA programs would have something special to open on Christmas Day thanks to the donations. An exact count can only happen once the presents are processed and delivered.

Last year, 628 children were served by CASA programs, according to Mylenek. 

Outside the Jackson County Justice building, Medford police wearing Santa hats — not to mention Jolly Old St. Nick and Mrs. Claus riding in a black Mustang convertible — collected three large carts of presents.

According to circuit court supervisor Jamie Norman, nearly every tag containing children’s wishes on the courthouse CASA Giving Tree was picked up. Everyone from judges to cleaning staff contributed, Norman said.

“There was only one tag that didn’t get picked,” Norman said.

Outside the Lithia headquarters, a certain costumed green “mean one” tried to steal Christmas, but Medford police weren’t having that.

Possibly because his heart had grown to three sizes too big, The Grinch was released from the MPD patrol car shortly after the photo op subsided.

The toy drive had special meaning for some, such as Lithia Corporate Facilities Manager Ramon Merlos, who helped in the coordination of this year’s toy drive and in childhood was in CASA programs.

He said the experience planted a “little seed” when he was 12 years old, which he said has grown “a little bit at a time.” Merlos, his wife and three children separately try to find families in need they can help during the holidays.

“I’m glad I work for a company that likes to give back,” Merlos said.

According to Mylenek, the holidays are not the only time of the year that CASA of Jackson County can utilize donations to help children in its programs. Throughout the year the agency holds pajama drives, summer clothing drives and book drives. They can also always utilize monetary donations to help kids with specific needs throughout the year. For more information, see jacksoncountycasa.org/donate.