Children receive a gift and visit Santa
By Loreen Berlin
“Project Give a Christmas” began 27 years ago when the Buena Park Police Association decided to host a family for the Christmas holiday; that tradition continues even stronger today, which included helping 174 children from 74 families.
The event is now a partnership with the local business community who also sponsor families as part of the project.
Chief Corey Sianez said deserving families are chosen through the local schools and the children’s Christmas wish lists are submitted to the Police Department.
“Without you, our sponsors, we couldn’t do this,” said Sianez. “This is an opportunity to give back to our community; Christmas is about being with family and friends and being thankful for what we have. Please keep those in your thoughts and prayers who can’t be home for Christmas. The holiday season is a great time to reflect on, and appreciate the good fortune we’re blessed with throughout the year. It is this spirit, that the Buena Park Police Department and local businesses wish to pass on to the members of our community this holiday season,” said Sianez.
Sunday, Dec. 16, the Police Department hosted “Project Give a Christmas” at the Community Center. Items on the wish lists of the children chosen to participate were presented to the children by various sponsoring groups, who shop for, wrap and present the gifts to the children. Santa and Mrs. Claus visited with the children after the breakfast that was supplied by Orora Food Packaging Solutions.
“The Buena Park Police Department wishes to thank all of those who have been involved in the program over the years and for our generous sponsors. We appreciate the support of local businesses who understand that the true gift of the season is found in the act of sharing; this event wouldn’t be possible or as successful without our sponsors. We would also like to thank the Buena Park Community Center and their staff for hosting the event,” said Sianez.
Sponsors included the Buena Park Police Administration and various police department bureaus including dispatch, training, detectives, IT, traffic and CIT.
Also helping were the Buena Park Community Services Department, Buena Park Public Works, City of Buena Park Marketing Specialist Gina Van Stratten, Yamaha, Premier Automotive, Pepsi, Soroptimist International of Buena Park, the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the Townhouse Motel, along with Chief Sianez.
Miss Buena Park 2019 Kelly Smith-Bennett helped Soroptimist International of Buena Park hand out gifts to the children, saying that it was a really nice event and that she enjoyed being involved. Soroptimists said they make and sell candy each year at Christmas time and hold other fundraisers within their group so they can use the money to purchase the gifts for children in the Project Give a Christmas.
“We adopted a family again this year and it turned out really well,” said Soroptimist member Mary Sutherland. “We feel like we are Santa and so we buy everything on the list each year and we have a lot of fun participating in the project.”
