From Chief P.K. Johnson
Millbrook Police Department
For the ninth consecutive year, the Millbrook Police Department, in partnership with Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Three Rivers Chapter, American Legion Post 133, Pest Pro, along with a host of other area businesses, churches, civic organizations and our citizens have been collecting donations of money and gifts for our Operation Blue Santa Campaign, which enables us to assist area families in need, by providing Christmas gifts to area children that may not otherwise receive a gift during Christmas due to their circumstances.
Throughout the year, organizations like the Punishers, American Legion Post 133, and Pest Pro have conducted fund raisers, such as motorcycle rides, spaghetti dinners or toy drives, all in Support of our Operation Blue Santa campaign. The funds raised are used to purchase toys and other Christmas gifts for children up to age 15, who reside in our community. Our department receives applications from area families in need, with many being referred to us from local churches and civic groups that are familiar with their needs. These applications help us determine the number of children in each family, their age and what the needs are.
At that point, our officers and staff, armed with that information, can go through our inventory of donated gifts, as well as shop with funds donated to accommodate as many children as possible. Our local Walmart is a huge help to us, ordering extra bicycles to meet our campaign’s requirements, while maintaining their inventory to allow everyone else attempting to meet their Christmas shopping needs as well.
Just this week, we’ve been visited by the members of American Legion Post 133, who dropped off truckloads of toys and bicycles, and a check for $4,333.00. Ashley Williams with Pest Pro and her staff, arrived in four trucks and dropped off toys and bicycles, all in support of Operation Blue Santa.
During the week leading up to Christmas, the families that submitted applications will receive notification that their children’s items are ready for pick-up at the Millbrook Police Department, so Santa can do what Santa does. On December 20, 2024, from 6 PM through 8 PM, many of those families will join our officers and staff, and our partners at the Millbrook Judicial Complex to receive their gifts and meet Santa. They can also partake in Santa’s favorite milk and cookies.
During my 28-year tenure with this department, the men and women of the Millbrook Police Department have always tried to assist a couple of families with children that might not otherwise have gifts for Christmas. It’s just another way to serve and give back to our community, which has always supported us.
This program, Operation Blue Santa, is the brainchild of Lieutenant Don Pugh, started nine years ago and was a huge success that first year, despite getting a late start in early to mid-November. Since that first year we’ve literally went from helping a few families at Christmas time to ensuring that hundreds of children, who may not otherwise receive a gift at all, have a smile on their face and gifts underneath their trees at Christmas, which is what this campaign is all about.
Santa will be on hand to greet the children and assist in passing out toys during the designated time for pick-up. I want to thank our partners, Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club Three Rivers Chapter, American Legion Post 133, Pest Pro, Domino’s Pizza and many others in our community for partnering with us to give back to our community.
I remember about 13 years ago I was asked to donate a bicycle to a similar program that that Post 133 was doing that year. Well, they called the week before Christmas and I’d already spent what I had intended for that time frame, but I’d given my word, so off to Walmart I went. My helper reminded me that the eight-year-old little girl, who was to receive the bicycle, would need a helmet as well. I was a little taken aback, having to spend even more money, but I purchased a helmet as well.
I dropped the bike off at Post 133 and didn’t think much of it. That is until Christmas morning, as my children were opening their gifts from Santa. It was then that I realized that an eight-year-old little girl, which happened to be the same age as our youngest daughter, would be receiving a nice bicycle that she might not have otherwise received. I also had an opportunity to look inside the American Legion and knew that there were several children in our community that were receiving similar gifts due to the generosity of many of our citizens and local businesspeople. My youngest asked; “Daddy why are smiling with tears in your eyes?” I told her about the little girl her age getting a bicycle that morning, to which she replied, “That’s cool Daddy!”
Yes, it is! Helping children in our community at Christmas that might not otherwise receive a gift is very cool indeed!
