Santa’s elves aren’t the only ones lending a hand, this holiday season. The men and women of the Sully District Police Station are doing their share, too. They “adopted” 30 local families in need, collected 2,009 pounds of food and then delivered it to them.
“We did a competition between the patrol squads to see which one could bring in the most food,” said Capt. Bob Blakley, the station commander. “The winner was one midnight squad of 11 officers which brought in 770 pounds. We make it fun, but the collection is also done in the spirit of the season.”
1st Lt. Matt Owens, the assistant commander, said the winning squad received a fitting prize for its efforts. “They got a home-cooked, barbecue dinner from the wife of one of the officers,” he said.
It’s the second year the station has done this holiday-food project and, said Blakley, “We nearly doubled our last year’s collection amount. Members of the community also contributed food, and the Westfield Business Owners Association donated a $20 grocery card for every recipient family.”
“We’re very proud,” he continued. “Any time we get an opportunity to give back to the community in a positive way, we jump at the chance. This is a good example of a Sully District partnership because this is the police, the business community, residents and the faith community — Western Fairfax Christian Ministries — coming together to help those in need in the holiday season.”
WFCM connected the police with the families needing food, and all of them live in the Sully District. “Each family will get enough food for a holiday meal, but also for a week’s sustainment,” said Blakley. “And we’ll take any leftover food to crime victims known to us.”
Owens noted that each family’s bag doesn’t just contain items that can be eaten at dinner, but has food for breakfast and lunch, as well. “We think of the kids who are home from school for two weeks without free- or reduced-price lunches,” said Blakley. “So we make sure we have enough food in the bags for their holiday break.”
Trader Joe’s and the Giant Foods store on Stone Road in Centreville donated the bags. “And we’ll put holiday cards in each bag,” said PFC Tara Gerhard, the station’s crime-prevention officer. She also stressed how much receiving this food means to the families who need it so much.
“We call them in advance to arrange a delivery date so they’ll be home when we arrive,” she said. “And one woman actually cried on the phone, she was so appreciative.”
The officers filled all the food bags Dec. 9-10 and then delivered them Dec. 17-18. Overall, said Gerhard, “It’s been a lot of fun and the squads did a good job. We like the community to know we’re supporting them and are here to help them.”