Operation Blue Christmas brings cheer to seniors and youngsters

Foundation volunteers and Front Royal Police officers visit a local nursing home, bringing gifts and cheer to its residents in Dec. 2016. / Photo by Norma Jean Shaw

FRONT ROYAL – Officers of the Front Royal Police Department and the nonprofit, volunteer organization the Front Royal Police Foundation are gearing up for two holiday events for which they plan all year long.

Operation Blue Christmas is a project that allows the FRPD to partner with the Front Royal Elks Lodge and provide a party, complete with gifts and a visit from Santa, for children who might not other have a Christmas gift. Officers will be at the Elks Lodge on Saturday, December 9th,  helping pass out gifts, visiting with the children and their families.

Foundation President Patti Baggarly said that the children have already been identified and shopped for by the Elks, and the police officers would be on hand to help the Elks with the party.

“The Officers enjoy spending time with these young ones, the future of our Town, playing games and enjoying a meal together. Talk about smiles!” Baggarly said.

Captain Ryman said the officers enjoy meeting the families as they help Santa deliver gifts, and it demonstrates to the children that police officers are a part of the community and are not just there for when trouble occurs and help is needed.

For the third year, officers and board members will visit two local nursing homes, taking gifts to the residents and staff. Though it is difficult to schedule a time to visit –between shift-work, court appearances and days off – the past two years have seen a large contingent of officers who were delighted to visit the seniors, spend time visiting and posing for photos with the seniors.

The visits will occur on Dec. 14.

Captain Ryman said, “The nursing home visits made some of the officer’s Christmases. It’s clear to see that some of the seniors had not had a visitor for some time, and seeing the joy on the residents’ faces means a lot.

The staff is so welcoming and excited for us to visit their residents—it’s a small undertaking for us, in terms of time and resources, and it means a great deal to us and to those whom we visit. We couldn’t coordinate this without the great work of the foundation.”

The Front Royal Police Foundation is a non-profit 501c3 volunteer organization comprised of citizens who work to raise funds for department needs that are beyond what the town budget can fully support.

The board spends 95-percent of all donated funds; the remaining five-percent is spent on overhead, such as stationery, postage, etc.

Items funded by the Front Royal Police Foundation in the past include: a K9 vehicle, K9 training and a kennel, defensive tactics training equipment, gym equipment and travel expenses for out of state training, as well as funding support for community projects such as National Night Out.

For more information about supporting the Foundation with a tax-deductible donation, or becoming a member, see the Facebook page here: Front Royal Police Foundation Facebook page.