The Redding Peace Officers’ Association is excited to announce our 28th Annual Operation Blue Santa!
This years delivery date is scheduled for Friday, December 21st, 2018. Santa and his helpers will be departing in Blue Santa fashion from the south doors of the Robert P. Blankenship Police Building (west of City Hall) at 8:30am.
As with all Operation Blue Santas, our first stop will be Mercy Hospital Pediatrics.
This year we are able to assist a few families affected by the Carr Fire.
For more information contact:
rpoabluesanta@gmail.com
ABOUT OPERATION BLUE SANTA
Operation Blue Santa is a non-profit (501c3) program organized by the Redding Peace Officers’ Association in conjunction with the Redding Police Department. Redding Operation Blue Santa began in Redding California by a police officer in 1991. As a police officer he saw a need to provide help with Christmas to families with children in the community he served. Over the years the program has evolved somewhat but the basic concept has remained the same; to assist families with children that might not otherwise have a Christmas.
Every year since 1991 on a day near Christmas “Blue” Santa and his helpers are escorted around town by the Redding Police Department. Santa along with his helpers who consists of uniformed and non-uniformed personnel, Chaplains and volunteers go door to door delivering presents for the children and a grocery gift card for the family to purchase items for a Christmas dinner. The gifts are specific to each child’s needs, wants and interests. In 2017 Blue Santa was able to visit 18 families, One Safe Place and made a stop to visit children in the Pediatric Ward at Mercy Medical Center. A total of 74 kids! We also come prepared with stuffed toys and stockings filled with candy for any child we see while on our route. Recipients of the program are families with whom RPD personnel, volunteers, and Chaplains have come in contact with during the year. We also receive referrals from schools and Shasta County Children and Family Services.
The success of Operation Blue Santa is because of the amazing generosity of this community! All donations go to the operation of the program. Donations can be made directly to the Redding Peace Officers’ Association. Also, One of our main sources of support is We Back The Blue – Shasta. A great organization that supports Law Enforcement and its charities and unfunded needs. So keep an eye out for their family friendly events!
