Published: 12-05-08
Peace officers have long received well-deserved credit for bravely and selflessly putting their lives on the line to help others. But what’s less well-known are peace officers’ selfless efforts to serve those who are less fortunate.
This is particularly true at Christmas time. Many law enforcement agencies across Texas operate programs that provide holiday gifts to needy children in their communities. Most often called Blue Santa (police department) or Brown Santa (sheriff’s department) programs these charitable endeavors help make the holidays brighter for kids who might otherwise receive nothing for Christmas.
Each law enforcement agency’s approach is unique but the basic structure of these programs is usually the same. The police department or sheriff’s office collects toys and other gifts donated by local citizens and businesses. Officers put together a list of needy children in their community; wrap the presents; and then distribute them to the children on or around Christmas Day. It takes a lot of work but it’s a labor of love for these officers.
Importantly Blue Santa and Brown Santa programs help send an important message to children that law enforcement is on their side.
One Conroe police officer recently told a newspaper that the officers’ work in Blue Santa puts police officers in a different light than children might normally perceive. An officer in San Angelo made a similar comment to his local paper noting that his work with the Blue Santa program helped local citizens see that officers are regular people.
Judging by the kids’ reactions the programs are accomplishing that goal. A young girl in Odessa hugged a big bag of gifts saying “I’m happy since I would’ve had nothing if it wasn’t for today.” A Head Start director said seeing the excitement on children’s faces was priceless: “Some of them cry because it’s the first toy they get.”
Sometimes officers have the opportunity to help kids who are suffering physically as well as financially. A few years ago an Austin girl was hospitalized with a sudden illness just two days before Christmas. She underwent surgery on Christmas Eve unsure whether she would live. The young girl awoke the next morning to find not only that she would be OK but that a Blue Santa had come to visit her and name her as Princess of the Day. A year later she worked with her second-grade class to raise $500 for Blue Santa then visited the same hospital to distribute toys to sick children. The little girl also had the honor of passing her crown to a new Princess of the Day.
Lives like hers have been touched for decades through the Austin Police Department’s Operation Blue Santa which was founded in the early 1970s. Back then 20 families received gifts and Christmas. Today several thousand families are being served and the positive effects are being felt even outside Austin. According to one newspaper a firefighter who benefited from Operation Blue Santa when he was a child decided to start a similar program in Harlingen where he currently resides.
Similar stories are being told in communities large and small all across the Lone Star State. Those anecdotes are another reminder that Texas peace officers are truly committed to protecting and serving the families in their communities.
A San Angelo police officer captured the benefits of these charitable programs best when he recalled saying “Merry Christmas” to a single mom after her child had received an outpouring of gifts. With tears in her eyes she replied “Now it will be.”
As Attorney General I thank all Texas peace officers – and their families – for their commitment to public service. All Texans owe the entire law enforcement community a debt of gratitude for serving the children and families of our great state.
