Wayne Dennard

ACWORTH

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Good Tidings We Bring to You

BY WAYNE DENNARD

December is one of my favorite months. I love the hustle and bustle of the holidays, the focus on joy and goodwill, the time spent with family and loved ones, and the way we all begin to plan for the coming new year with a sense of hope. This month, the Acworth Police Department is grateful for the opportunity to help families in our community with our Christmas Shoppe and Miracle Tree.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there will be toy collection bins throughout the city. Once the toys have been collected, we will set up our Christmas Shoppe in our training room, and families who are experiencing financial difficulties will be invited to “shop” at the department for gifts that have been donated from those in our community. In addition to Christmas presents, every family we help will receive gift cards to a grocery store, so they can be sustained through the holiday season. Community members are invited to select gifts off the department’s Miracle Tree to help bless a family in

We also will have our Miracle the Acworth community. Tree set up in the lobby. The Miracle Tree is adorned with ornaments listing items, which are needed and wanted by members of one family that is experiencing extreme hardship. Our staff and the community are invited to pick out ornaments and provide specific gifts to the family. Through the Miracle Tree, we will be able to provide everything the family needs to have a complete Christmas, including gifts, food and even paying their monthly bills. During this season, while we are working to care Wayne Dennard has served as chief since 2012 and has lived in this community for more than 40 years. for families who are experiencing financial need, I encourage everyone to keep an eye out for those in our community who might be experiencing mental health struggles as well. This can be a difficult time for many, and there are those who may need help and are unable, or unwilling, to ask for it. This season, many people may feel especially lonely, so please check on your neighbors and friends. A simple phone call can go a long way. If you or someone you know is struggling, there are resources and people available to assist. You can reach out to the police department for assistance, or contact the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI, or text NAMI to 741741. I feel so blessed to live and work in Acworth. Many of our citizens and businesses are filled with a desire to serve others, and that creates a strong sense of shared community for everyone. As we reflect on this past year and all of the blessings God has bestowed upon us, please keep our officers in your thoughts and prayers as they work in the jail and patrol the streets of our city. Please join me in praying for their safety and for their families to be filled with joy throughout the season. Merry Christmas!