Sirens blared, blue lights flashed and Christmas music played. Pedestrians snapped photos, shouted words of encouragement and pumped their fists.

And not just for Santa Claus, but he was there, too.

With four Northeastern University police cruisers and a trailer full of holiday gifts leading the way, a convoy of area college public safety vehicles was a sight to behold on Boston’s busy city streets Friday morning.

The officers, many accompanied by their canine companions, made the slow 4.5-mile drive from Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in the Seaport District, headquarters for Marine Toys for Tots–Greater Boston.

They delivered hundreds of new, unwrapped toys as holiday gifts to children less fortunate, a tradition started by the U.S. Marine Corps 74 years ago.

In addition to Northeastern and Bunker Hill, other police departments participating in the convoy included Harvard University, Simmons University, Tufts University, Framingham State University, Boston University and Babson College. State police motorcycle officers also took part.

At the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, volunteers took a break from sorting toys to play with Cooper and Sarge, Northeastern’s community resource dogs, who made the trip.

Gifts for the Toys for Tots program were donated by Northeastern students, faculty and staff, and collected at drop-boxes scattered throughout the Boston campus.

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