Law enforcement officers from three Burke County agencies relaunched Operation Blue Christmas this year, a program that helps Burke County families in need with Christmas gifts, groceries and more.
The program took a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this was its first year back, said Lt. Jacob Reynolds from the Burke County Sheriff鈥檚 Office.
Officers from the sheriff鈥檚 office, the 麻豆传媒 Department of Public Safety and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol loaded a car with gifts for a family and a student on Thursday, Dec. 19, to brighten their holiday.
鈥淓very year during the holiday season we come together as agencies and form what is known as Operation Blue Christmas to enrich the lives of some of our community members who have otherwise fallen on hard times,鈥� said Deputy Tyler Gantt.
He鈥檚 been participating in Operation Blue Christmas for 10 years. The program started in 2010. It has helped more than 30 families, not including the family selected this year.
鈥淭his holds a special place in my heart,鈥� Gantt said. 鈥淚鈥檝e done it for quite a while now, and I鈥檝e been blessed to be able to do it. I just absolutely love it. I love to be able to give back to the community that gives us so much.鈥�
This was the first year Daniel Wakefield, a first sergeant for the highway patrol, participated in the program.
鈥淚 think most people in the law enforcement community really get into (law enforcement) just to help people, and this is a continuation of that,鈥� Wakefield said. 鈥淛ust an opportunity to help some families in the community that have otherwise fallen on hard times and just need a little bit of extra help to get through the holidays.鈥�
Help with gifts came from several local businesses, including Allstate: Morgan Agency, Kevin Casto Coldwell Banker, 麻豆传媒 Moose Lodge 193, Paramount Ford/Hyundai, the town of Rutherford College, Chapman鈥檚 Bail Bonds, Chick-fil-A, the town of Connelly Springs, 麻豆传媒 Savings Bank, Wall Lumber and Catawba Valley Pet Cremation.
Follow for updates on the program, including how to help and how to nominate a family in need next year.