More than 300 families receive boxes of donated food Tuesday morning through the Owensboro Police Department’s 8th Annual Operation Santa. Despite some changes to this year’s event, community support was greater than ever for the program.
In addition to receiving a ham, families were given boxes that included other food such as mac ‘n’ cheese, soups, cookies, crackers, granola bars and vegetables.
OPD Public Information Officer Andrew Boggess said many families are identified by the Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County, the Housing Authority of Owensboro, the school systems, or by officers who come across someone in need.
“This year, perhaps more than any other, we have a lot of individual struggling — whether it be financial, physical, medical issues, just not being able to gather with families like they traditionally do,” Boggess said. “This is a little something we can do to give back to the community. It’s one of the best events we do every year. It’s always great to be involved.”
The program is funded with money raised from the annual “No Shave” fundraiser as well as donations by local businesses and organizations.
OPD noted the following businesses and organizations that helped make this year’s event possible:
- Kroger
- IGA
- Meijer
- Walmart
- Specialty Foods Group, LLC Lowe’s
- Unilever
- Southern Star
- Independence Bank
- Atmos Energy
- Owensboro Athletic Club
- Owensboro Public Schools
- Owensboro Catholic Schools
- Owensboro City Hall employees
The event has continued to grow a little each year, and 2020 was no exception.
“Overall, given our limitations and how we had to do things differently, we still did very well with being able to get donations,” said OPD Officer Craig Sutter. “The community gets behind the project and is very supportive.”
Sutter said they never considered cancelling Operation Santa.
“It was going to happen, especially under the current circumstances,” he said. “It was more important to do it this year than it already was. We knew the need would be greater this year.”
