GPOA helps to ensure all families have a merry Christmas.

By Mary O’KEEFE

Members of the Glendale Police Officers Association (GPOA) are giving back at Christmas time through its Cops for Kids program. The annual event kicked off last week with the delivery of Christmas trees to 26 homes. Families decorated their trees in anticipation of the presents that will be placed beneath them, thanks to the generosity of GPD and the community.

Members put out donation boxes at several businesses and reached out to the community for additional support. Donations of toys and other gifts allow the GPOA to spend funds raised on necessities for families, like clothing.

 “We are getting more toys this year,” said Amy Tate, chairwoman for Cops for Kids at Christmas. “We received a lot more toys at our toy drive at the [Glendale] Galleria on the Friday after Thanksgiving.”

Tate was overwhelmed by the generosity for these families.

“And Rosemont Middle School teacher [Shannon] Kracker’s class did a book drive. Books are expensive,” she said.

Five of Kracker’s seventh grade literature classes participated in the book drive that collected more than 230 books.

“Two years ago, my students, after reading ‘A Christmas Carol,’ collected gift cards to Joann’s for Angelique, a CV student who was injured in a terrible car accident. Glendale PD heard about us and set up an awesome pizza lunch for my students to reward them for giving back to someone in need,” said Kracker. “Glendale PD knew Angelique and worked closely with her family. Cops for Kids was the organization that rewarded my students with the lunch. [Amy Tate and I] believe in giving to the community and [we] love to serve others. We have stayed in contact ever since.”  

The Rosemont students’ efforts helped with gift collection as did local businesses and even businesses in Burbank.

Tate found the families in need through schools as well as police officers who knew of those in need. In addition to the families that are adopted, the Cops for Kids recently went shopping with children at Target department store.

“We usually have 10 to 15 kids who shop with police officers, but this year Target contacted me and said they could do more,” Tate said.

A lot more. Target provided $150 gift cards to 40 kids.

Thirty officers and GPD Explorers along with civilian helpers went to Target with the kids to help them shop.

In addition to the holiday program, Cops for Kids conducts traffic safety education classes and sponsors parties at Halloween and Easter. During the year when police officers come across families that need help they add their names to the list for Cops for Kids. GPOA raises funds throughout the year for the many programs it sponsors. GPOA has distributed over 20,000 toys to children throughout the community as a result of the generosity of Glendale citizens and businesses, according to a Cops for Kids statement.

Anyone who would like to donate to Cops for Kids at Christmas can bring gifts to the lobby of the GPD main office at 131 N. Isabel St. Needed items include toys, new clothing and shoes and gift cards that Tate can use to purchase needed items. All can be dropped off at the police station.

Other drop off areas include: Bank of America, 203 N. Glendale, Glendale Federal Credit Union, 500 E. Wilson Ave., Nova Market & Catering, 901 W. Glenoaks Blvd., Trumark Real Estate Management & Services, 320 Arden Ave. Ste. 110, Abri Dental, 3808 Riverside Dr. Ste. 501, Coldwell Banker, 1625 W. Glenoaks Blvd. and Green California Dental Group, 1822 W. Burbank Blvd.

For more information, contact Amy Tate at (818) 548-3136.

  Mary Okeefe