Salt Lake police are playing Santa this week for three families, complete with Christmas dinners, trees and presents.
More than $1,000 was raised for the three families, including two within the department whose immediate family members died during past holidays, said Sgt. Scott Folsom.Canned foods, clothes, toys and other items were donated by officers, secretaries, clerks and dispatchers for the families, said Nina Wright, chairperson of the effort, which is coordinated by the Police Mutual Aid Association.
The presents were wrapped Wednesday, and Wright said officers will go to the families homes Christmas day and prepare the meals. The trees and presents will be given to the parents in time for Christmas morning.
Dispatchers knitted hats for the families, with the extras being donated to the shelters. "And everything else we're not going to use we're going to give to the homeless," she said.