GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Police Lights of Christmas program is back for the fourth year.
Officers from 25 local departments kicked off the holiday fundraiser for families in need at the Timber Rattler Stadium in Grand Chute Monday.
Money was raised throughout the year and police departments were given bags full of necessities and gift cards to hand out to those in need.
It’s up to the officers to determine who gets the cards or bags.
“In Menasha, what we do is we empower the patrol officers. When they interact or meet somebody that they see is in need of a financial boost on the spot they can just grab a card and give it out,” Officer Nick Oleszak with the Menasha Police Department said.
Oleszak tells FOX 11 Menasha Police, along with many other departments, have put the gift cards to use in recent years.
“A couple of times disadvantaged students in high school. We’ve talked amongst ourselves and said hey these students these families need something during the holidays. And we got a couple of the cards together and made sure that their holidays were more fun than they would have been otherwise.”
Oleszak says there’s no paperwork that goes along with this, just officers helping their community.
“As police officers, we got into this business to make a difference, and this is one of the ways that we can make a difference. It’s one of the ways where we can see somebody and help directly. Not just as a law enforcement officer but as a member of the community.”
This year, Police Lights of Christmas raised $70,000 for gift cards and gave out 750 bags in total.
