Each Christmas season, local police officers get the chance to make the holidays merry and bright for groups of children who otherwise might have a blue Christmas. 

Officers with multiple area departments spend each November and December raising money to provide toys for children in low income households. It’s a way for local police to help support the community, and have a little fun along the way taking kids shopping at Walmart. The families in need of a holiday pick-me-up are identified with the help of local school and community programs.

Truesdale Police Chief Casey Doyle said his department raised about $2,800 to take a dozen kids shopping over the weekend. The money was provided through the support of exceptionally generous local businesses and community members, Doyle said.

“It’s extremely important, especially during a time like this and the year everybody’s had,” Doyle said. “If kids need a little something extra, we’re all about helping. ... People from all walks of life are struggling right now.”

Each young shopper was provided their own officer to escort them around the store Dec. 12, picking out toys, candy, art supplies, and even gifts for their family members. Doyle said each participating family was also offered $100 for groceries. Anything extra will be saved for next year.

Sheriff Kevin Harrison said his department is changing its Christmas program this year due to COVID concerns. Instead of taking kids shopping, as deputies normally would, the department is donating to a toy drive at Agape food pantry that hopes to supply gifts for 1,000 children in poverty.

“We usually take about a dozen kids shopping, and spend $150 each. We help their parents do some grocery shopping as well. By the time we pay for everything plus tax, we’ve spent around $2,000,” Harrison said. “This year, because of COVID ... we didn’t want to take a chance on having 12 officers all grouped together to go shopping. So we’re providing that money to Agape, earmarked for their toy program.”

Harrison said deputies find various ways to raise money for gifts, from in-house “No-Shave November” collections to community donations.

“We didn’t do any outside fundraising this year ... but we’re fortunate that in previous years we’ve raised enough that we were in a good place,” Harrison said.

Officer Jeff Catron with Wright City Police said his department does its own collection for families that it adopts in partnership with the Parents as Teachers program at local schools.

“We raised over $300 this year to buy toys and clothes. We’ve adopted two families this year, and then we had some extra as well,” Catron said. “The leftover toys that don’t get donated out, our patrol guys and myself put them in our patrol cars, and we drive around and hand out gifts.”

This year, the officers stocked with toys will include those on duty on Christmas Day. Officers also received privately donated gift certificates for Wright Way Diner that they’re giving away, Catron added.

“As they’re cruising and checking neighborhoods, if they see somebody out, they’ll make contacts with some kids and spread some Christmas cheer,” Catron said. “It shows that police officers are people, too, and helps with community interactions. The officers really get into it.”