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December 3, 2021 - The Rotary Club of Center made a donation to Operation Blue Santa during their Tuesday, November 30, 2021 meeting at the Civic Center.
Detective Nicole Faulkner with the Center Police Department spoke about Operation Blue Santa. In 2020, around 330 kids were helped with Christmas gifts. This year, the program already has 170 kids signed up before December 1st.
Detective Faulkner described the program saying anyone needing assistance can fill out a form for each child in their family. She added Operation Blue Santa is all done through donations with the majority of the shopping handled in Center.
This year the Sheriff's Department is joining to help with Operation Blue Santa by collecting toys and donations as well.
Detective Faulkner ended the program by saying, "People are very giving in this community. I was a little worried that this year was going to be hard on people being able to donate but so far everything is looking really good. I just hope we can continue to do it every year because there is always somebody needing help and there is always kids that are deserving of Christmas that may not get it otherwise."
The history of Operation Blue Santa: In 2015 a couple of the officers with the Center Police Department decided to start providing toys for kids in the community which was also around the time Ed Roberts who was over Santa Rides a Motorcycle for over 35 years was considering retiring from the program. In support of the officers, the Center Police Department Ladies Auxiliary made a donation in memory of Edna Boykins to help the toy drive get underway. Boykins passed away the previous month and was a long time beloved dispatcher, court clerk, and then Associate Judge of the Municipal Court for the city. In 2016 the officers adopted the name Operation Blue Santa for the toy drive and in 2017 the Center Police Department Ladies Auxiliary started hosting Cookies and Cocoa with Santa as a way for collecting gift donations and raise funds. 2021 is the 7th year of the toy drive and the 5th year of Cookies and Cocoa with Santa.
