Police Get Backup From Civilians to Provide Gifts for Needy Children

Sharon Reynolds said it started with just one family in 1991.

It was right before Christmas, and a mother walked into the Buena Park Police Department asking if someone could help her get bicycles for her children. Their father had just died and they were short on money. Reynolds, a civilian who has been working in the community relations/crime prevention department for more than 17 years, enlisted the support of the police association and got the children their wish.

The next year, two families asked for help. A grandmother who had custody of her two grandchildren and a single mom with twin girls. And so while the children were in school one day, presents were delivered to them courtesy of Reynolds and the Police Department.

The third year, what started as a simple kindness became Project Give a Christmas and has since grown to helping out 52 needy families this season.

“We’re giving Christmas or Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or whatever to some families that wouldn’t have it otherwise,” Reynolds said. She said that for years it remained strictly a police-sponsored event, with her going around the station asking for donations. Eventually others outside the department became a part of the charity.

On Friday, Reynolds and volunteers from the CAPS--Citizens Assisting Police--program, filled a 30-foot storage unit with toys, food, clothing, blankets, diapers and games donated from corporate sponsors, city employees and area businesses. Businesses that adopted a family were provided with clothing sizes, ages of the children and toy preferences from Reynolds.

“After that, the rest of the community does the rest,” she said.

Reynolds said she has been overwhelmed by the generosity. The first business to pitch in was Great Western Bank, now Washington Mutual, which for the ninth year has put out a collection barrel in its Buena Park branch and adopted a family.

On Sunday, the four Santas, including Councilman Art Brown, were chauffeured in a patrol car and escorted by motor officers on their day off. According to everyone involved, this is the best part of the project.

“You can’t help but get caught up in the spirit,” she said. “I know other departments probably brag about their Christmas programs, but I have yet to see one time that someone has left at the end of the day without at least once having shed a tear. To see the look on those kids’ faces is incredible.”

Ana Cholo-Tipton can be reached at (714) 966-5890.