During the holidays, many of us run around trying to find the perfect gifts for the special people in our lives. There are television commercials, online advertisements, and email campaigns from major department stores and online companies offering sales and deals. Shops and streets are covered in festive decorations. It would seem that everyone is rushing about getting ready for the holidays.
For many though, December is just as desperate a time financially as every other month of the year. Buying presents is the farthest thought in their minds. They’re just trying to get by.
But for some struggling folks in Shawnee, Kansas, Christmas has come early.
For the third year in a row, an anonymous donor has generously given $10,000 to the community. There aren’t any stipulations attached to how the money is to be distributed – it’s up to the police department and its officers to determine who should receive the $100 bills.
The only qualification? Need.
The officers charged with handing out the cash decide who is deemed needy enough. Recipients can be the folks officers encounter during their daily patrols or those they’ve met this past year.
For many people, seeing an officer approach their front door leaves them nervous. Police don’t usually arrive on your doorstep unless you’re in trouble or something is wrong. When knocking on the doors of her recipients, Officer Herber leads with, “You’re not in trouble,” to put the residents at ease.
Police Major Dan Tennis said the purpose behind this generous donation is to help strengthen the ties between the members of the community and its police force.
Officer Stevens is grateful for the opportunity. He said he hopes the community will realize that “what you see in the media isn’t representative of all of us.”
