In 2012, The Celina Police Department's Blue Santa program was born out of addressing the need of Celina Independent School District (CISD) school children at Christmas. What began with assisting a handful of students has grown to meet the needs and sometimes, wants, of over 100 CISD Kindergarten -12th-grade students. Celina ISD counselors and administrators confidentially identify students in the district that will benefit from participating in the Blue Santa program and pass it on to Officer Chase Guidera, Celina PD's Public Information Officer in charge of Community Relations.
"We are the middleman, the UPS. We take in the gifts provided by the generous community and deliver the gifts to Celina students. The Celina PD has the blessing of focusing on the personal aspect, the personal touch," Officer Guidera says.
The CPD relies on the school district to screen and provide an accurate record of the needs and wants of their students. That information is sorted into a list that allows community members to "adopt" a family by providing the items on the Christmas list. Sometimes these items are basic: coat, shoes, and personal hygiene. Other times, the "wants" include a specific doll, LEGO set, sports equipment, and the like. Whether the child asks for new joggers or a cool technology gadget, Officer Guidera suggests sharing the support of adopting a family for Christmas.
"We encourage people to get together with their neighbors, sports teams, social clubs, and businesses, to give generously to those in the Celina schools and community. This is an opportunity to focus on Celina taking care of Celina. Our hope is that once a family is adopted for the Blue Santa program, the kids become their kids and the donor treats them as such" encourages Guidera.
Ten years of working with CISD and the community to generously provide Christmas gifts for students has resulted in a successful Blue Santa program. The success, however, depends on the generosity of the Celina community.
For more information, email Officer Chase Guidera at cguidera@celina-tx.gov
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