SAN ANGELO, Texas — The holiday season is getting closer and with that, children will begin drafting their Christmas wish list to Santa. However, some children could miss out on Christmas because their family lacks the means for gifts.
That's where groups like the San Angelo Police Officer's Coalition come in with programs like "Operation Blue Santa", an event that gives San Angelo elementary school-aged children the chance to 'Shop with a Cop' at a local retail store.
But they need help from the community to make it happen.
Since 2007, 600 local children had a brighter Christmas in part, because of Operation Blue Santa. In 2022, 37 children were selected to participate in the program.
Each year, local school districts are contacted by SAPOC and is asked to select students who are the most in need. On the day of the 'Shop with a Cop' event, children and officers meet at a San Angelo retailer and hit the aisles to load their baskets up with toys and gifts to place under the Christmas tree.
"It's humbling. We get a lot of laughs, a lot of smiles from the kids," Officer Raymond Francis, project coordinator, said in 2022. "It lets the police department reach back out to the community and shows that all we want to do is help and take care of our community."
And that's not the only thing S.A.P.O.C. does during the holidays. With funds donated by the community, the coalition also is able to purchase Thanksgiving meal packages for families with children who attend local middle and high schools. In 2022, 23 meal packages were delivered.
Here's how you can help the program continue to serve children in San Angelo.
Checks and money orders can be sent to:
S.A.P.O.C
Attn: Operation Blue Santa
P.O. Box 804
San Angelo, Texas 76902
For more information, contact coordinator Officer Raymond Francis at raymond.francis@sanangelopolice.org.