The Owensboro Police Department delivered 350 boxes to residents across the city for the 11th annual Operation Santa on Wednesday morning.
The boxes included ham, crackers, cereal, canned goods, and other materials that were collected in part by the Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County to gather food supplies for those regularly served by the Meals on Wheels program.
Local businesses and organizations purchased and donated goods — including Kroger, IGA, Atmos Energy, Ragu/Unilever, Southern Star, and others. OPD officers also raised funds for the goods.
Public Information Officer Dylan Evans said OPD is a community-oriented organization, and they continue to seek out the chance to give back through this program every year.
“We all got into this profession in a police capacity, but any chance that we are able to give back during the holidays, that’s the real joy that we get out of this career,” Evans said.
Evans said that the families selected were chosen by different organizations such as Owensboro Public Schools and the Housing Authority of Owensboro.
While out delivering in the community, officers witnessed several families with shock and joy on their faces as they received their boxes — often too heavy with goods for the older residents to carry themselves.
In addition to every home on the list receiving a box, if an officer noticed a family that could benefit from on of their own the officer went back to the station to grab one.
Evans said that effort goes back to the support the department aims to provide.
“It’s important because we’re a community-oriented department. You can see that’s evident with everything that we do throughout the year, so we’re here to serve our community as best as we can,” he said.
This year, thanks to extra community donations, OPD was able to gift 50 more boxes than in 2022.
