Holiday Spirit Alive in Grain Valley

by John Unrein

Jim Garcia are Cindy Bell are two very important people. VIPS to be exact. They are both part of the Volunteers in Police Service within the Grain Valley community.

Each one has dutifully ensured that the Santa Bus visits in Grain Valley neighborhoods are as safe as possible for all involved. Garcia and Bell are in their third year of volunteering for this program.

You have probably seen them in your neighborhood at some point around the Thanksgiving Holiday. They drive in front of and behind the Santa Bus to form a barrier so that visitors of Santa are safe as well as motorists having an idea of what’s ahead of them. The only thing brighter than the yellow safety vests they wear are their smiles. Both get delight from their contributions.

“The enjoyment the kids get from this experience is great. Parents don’t have to go to the mall and fight crowds. Pictures taken with Santa Claus are free and downloadable. It’s a win for everyone” said Garcia.

“It’s great to see the joy Santa has for kids. This is almost as fun as Shop with a Cop,” Bell added.

The Santa Bus Tour will continue through December 16 th in Grain Valley. There is no cost to visit Santa on the bus.

If a child is unable to visit the bus, parents are asked to notify Santa and he will visit them inside. The Santa Bus is operated entirely by volunteers and supported through donations from local businesses and friends of the project.

For more information on the Grain Valley Santa Bus, visit www.gvsanta.com.

Pictured L to R: Cindy Bell and Jim Garcia, Volunteers in Police Service for the Grain Valley Police Department. Bell and Garcia escorted the Santa Bus through Rosewood Hills and Woodbury subdivisions on Saturday, November 24th.