For more information on Dunwoody Police Department’s Christmas for Kids program, visit www.dpdchristmas4kids.com
A holiday tradition has brought joy to underprivileged children and families in Dunwoody for the past five years. The Dunwoody Police Department’s Christmas for Kids program kicked off another year of collecting new and unwrapped gifts for the city’s under-privileged children between the ages of newborn to 15 years old.
“We really consider this event the crown jewel of the department’s outreach in the community,” said Sgt. Fidel Espinoza of the Dunwoody Police Department. “It’s a true partnership between the community to help those parents who are going through a tough time to spread some holiday cheer to their family.”
The 2014 CFK campaign started in November when local organizations and businesses in the community began collecting toys that will go to about 50 children this holiday season.
As a part of CFK, volunteers gathered on Dec. 6 at Dunwoody Municipal Court for the “Wrap Up Event” to gift wrap presents for the kids. The gifts will be presented during a private holiday party before Christmas Day. The families are identified by I Care Atlanta, a nonprofit organization that works to stabilize lives and prevents homelessness by feeding the food insecure in Metro Atlanta.
Leslie Greenberg has volunteered with CFK since it started, and she couldn’t imagine not being a part of this event.
“When (my husband) and I heard about this event, we had to be a part of it,” she said. “You have a small part in doing something so nice to make kids and families feel good during the holiday season. It’s really worth it.”
To continue spreading holiday cheer, CFK will take donations of new and unwrapped toys until Dec. 23.
“Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they receive these presents and seeing the parents happy because of their child’s excitement makes this event special every year,” Espinoza added.
In other news: The Comcast Foundation awarded grants totaling more than $110,000 to a variety of schools and organizations that support the underserved community throughout Georgia. Beneficiaries included 100 Black Men of Atlanta, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America Council, Boys and Girls Clubs, Central State University, East Lake Foundation, Latin American Association, the Ron Clark Academy and the United Way.
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