Oxford Police Department

from Oxfordian Fall/Winter 2021 Edition

Aristos’ Harvest

As the holiday season of 2021 approaches, Oxford Borough Police Department will be continuing daily duties of “to protect and serve.” However, as they have done the last several years, OPD will give back to the community they serve during their annual Christmas Toy Giveaway/Community Outreach event. The idea for the event started several years back when a very generous “Secret Santa” would donate bicycles for officers to give out to families they’d had knowledge of being in dire need during the year prior. As the program grew, the idea progressed to try and reach more children and those families whose parents may not feel comfortable expressing their need for help but are struggling. Perhaps there isn’t necessarily a financial need but the children have never had any contact with an officer and that visit to receive a toy on Christmas may create a lasting positive image of law enforcement in their community. There have been times officers have responded to a home for a domestic or emergency situation and the parent or child noted the officer had been there during the holidays and it turned an otherwise negative or tense situation around. Oxford Police Department is very fortunate to hold this event each year due to the generous donations from our community. Businesses and private citizens alike make monetary donations in late Fall and then officers make several shopping trips off duty to purchase the toys that are given out during a fun Christmas Santa Police parade with Santa Clause in a patrol car with lights and siren, hitting every street in Oxford Borough on Christmas Eve morning to distribute a toy to every Borough child between 0-16years of age who comes out of their home to meet the officers that serve them. Local businesses are also visited for toy purchases so it›s great community support all around. What started out as a conversation at Wholly Grounds between Officer Greer and Christine Grove of the Oxford Chamber, has grown into the popular Cash the Elf visits. Local members of the Oxford Chamber can support the efforts of the toy drive and

Santa, Officer Green and a lucky recipient of the toy drive.

garner some public relations for their business. Cash the Elf will visit local members in exchange for a donation. The photos are shared on social media and the chamber’s website.