Operation Blue Christmas Provides Christmas Gifts to Needy Families
By: Carmen Chau
Updated: December 8, 2012
FRONT ROYAL, VA - The holiday season is the time when retail stores are open later than their usual business hours, giving customers a chance to get their holiday shopping done.
One store decided to open their doors earlier, welcoming only children and police officers.
As the officers took a break from being on duty, they were paired up with a child as they picked out gifts for themselves and family members at Kmart.
"We do this every year to help out the citizens and families of our communities that otherwise wouldn't have a Christmas unless we lended a helping hand," says Shelley Mauck, evidence and records specialist of the Front Royal Police Foundation.
It is the second year the Front Royal Police Foundation raised funds for Operation Blue Christmas, a cause aimed to help out needy families who may not be able to splurge on Christmas gifts.
"You would think they would buy gifts for themselves but they actually go out and buy gifts for their mom and dad and also their siblings," says Town Police Chief, Norman Shiflett.
The gifts were wrapped by volunteers and brought to the American Legion Hall Post, where officers spent time with the children as they waited for Santa Claus to arrive.
Parents later joined in to pick up their children's gifts. One mother with an autistic son says nothing matters more than seeing a smile on his face.
"He's autistic, it's something he enjoys that I try to do whatever I can for him to make him happy," says Brenda Diggs, a parent who has participated in this event for the second year.
This not only made the holiday season special for the children but it created a bond between the local youth and the officers.
The Town of Front Royal Police Department needs the public's continued support to make this project possible every year.
Those who wish to assist may write a check made payable to the The Front Royal Police Foundation Inc.
One store decided to open their doors earlier, welcoming only children and police officers.
As the officers took a break from being on duty, they were paired up with a child as they picked out gifts for themselves and family members at Kmart.
"We do this every year to help out the citizens and families of our communities that otherwise wouldn't have a Christmas unless we lended a helping hand," says Shelley Mauck, evidence and records specialist of the Front Royal Police Foundation.
It is the second year the Front Royal Police Foundation raised funds for Operation Blue Christmas, a cause aimed to help out needy families who may not be able to splurge on Christmas gifts.
"You would think they would buy gifts for themselves but they actually go out and buy gifts for their mom and dad and also their siblings," says Town Police Chief, Norman Shiflett.
The gifts were wrapped by volunteers and brought to the American Legion Hall Post, where officers spent time with the children as they waited for Santa Claus to arrive.
Parents later joined in to pick up their children's gifts. One mother with an autistic son says nothing matters more than seeing a smile on his face.
"He's autistic, it's something he enjoys that I try to do whatever I can for him to make him happy," says Brenda Diggs, a parent who has participated in this event for the second year.
This not only made the holiday season special for the children but it created a bond between the local youth and the officers.
The Town of Front Royal Police Department needs the public's continued support to make this project possible every year.
Those who wish to assist may write a check made payable to the The Front Royal Police Foundation Inc.
