Blue Santa to bring Christmas to kids
Operation Blue Santa wants to provide 280 baskets of food for Taranaki families in need this Christmas.
This is the third year the New Plymouth Police Family Harm team, Roderique Hope Emergency Trust and Tu Tama Wahine o Taranaki have joined forces to bring Christmas cheer
In 2016 Blue Santa delivered 50 baskets, so last year they aimed to double that. However, the generosity of the Taranaki community meant they gave away 210 baskets, Michelle Ramage, from Roderique Hope Emergency Trust, said.
Detective Sergeant David Beattie, from the Family Harm team, said the police are determined to do more with an initiative that is making a difference to hundreds of families.
‘‘It’s about the people. It’s about the children and especially those living in poverty. First hand I have seen this level of generosity bring people to tears and the front line staff here get a huge kick out of supporting this cause.
‘‘Blue Santa offers front line staff the opportunity, not to go to an address to serve a summons or to arrest a perpetrator or to break bad news, but it gives us the opportunity to shine a little light on people’s hard circumstances and show that this community cares.’’
Last year in Taranaki police attended 3604 family harm events, Beattie said.
‘‘In August and September this year we have attended a recordbreaking 742 family harm events compared to 579 for the same two months last year.
‘‘This means that more and more people are coming forward to talk about it, with a trend towards more neighbours picking up the phone.
The baskets cost $85 and donations can be made at
www.roderiquehopetrust.co.nz
If people want to buy the food themselves they can email
roderiquehope@gmail.com