Each year, the York Police Department provides assistance, through their Holiday Giving tree, to many families in the community who might not have had the opportunity to share in the spirit of the season. The Holiday Giving Tree gives the Department a unique opportunity to work with the entire community by coordinating resources to meet the needs of families during the holiday season.
Families which are sponsored by this program are chosen through our school resource officers. After being selected to participate in this program, the Officers request from the parents a wish list for each child in the family (infant through 12th grade). The Wish lists contain items to meet basic needs such as clothing, outerwear and a true wish ( toys or hobby items). The Department then invites the community to participate in this program by coming to the station and choosing a wish list item from our Department Christmas tree. Each person who takes a wish list tag fulfills the wish written on that tag; then returns the gift(s) to the station. Not only do our local residents participate, our business partners have been more than generous through cash donations, gift card donations, or providing for an entire family.
Between December 1st and December 20th gifts are bought and collected for these families. Our office staff wraps and sorts all of the presents, then on December 22ndst, the joy and appreciation is very apparent as each family comes to the station to pick-up their gifts. All of the families are so grateful of this program and the difference it made in their lives during the holiday season. The Holiday Giving program has been very successful and we have been able to sponsor an average of 10 – 15 families in our community each year. We ask you to remember being a young child and what the wonder of Christmas morning meant to you.
If you are interested in participating in our program and helping these families please contact
Margaret Scamman
207-363-1031