FORT SMITH (KFSM) – The Fort Smith Police Department received $1,000 from an anonymous donor (broken down into $50 increments placed in envelopes) who requested officers give the money to people in need.
While on patrol, officers looked for residents that might need the money and then gave it to them, according to a news release.
Officers were asked to keep a log of who they gave the money to and send it to their supervisor. Below is the log from each police officer who gave money to a person in need:
- I made contact with a female who was walking on Dodson Ave with her three daughters all hand in hand. While talking to her it was apparent she was not having much of a Christmas despite working at local store. The kids were four, five, and six years old. Although the kids were just as happy as can be, the woman looked tired. When I gave her the $50 and explained who it came from she was very appreciative. She thanked me many times as she was fighting back tears. I spent some time listening to her daughters talk for a few minutes and answering their 99 questions before saying good-bye. I think this little gift will make a big impact on this family this Christmas.
- I made contact with a woman who has three children walking on Musset. She thought that she had done something wrong. After explaining that everything was ok and why I was actually stopping to talk to her she began to cry. Her children hugged me and a gentleman that was there shook my hand and thanked me.
- I was driving on North “I” Street and noticed a young couple pushing a baby stroller. I stopped and asked to see their baby, and they showed me a one-year-old boy in the stroller. I asked if they had a big Christmas planned for him, and the woman said they were going to do what they could. I handed them the envelope and explained what I was doing. I asked them to buy him something nice. They seemed very surprised. They thanked me, and I wished them a Merry Christmas.
- This morning I left the PD parking lot and noticed a vehicle with the hood up in the parking lot in the front of the courthouse. A woman was standing outside and a man appeared to be underneath it working. I pulled up to see if they needed any help. The man said that the woman’s starter had gone out on the car yesterday and he was trying to fix it. He had grease on his hands. He asked, “Am I in trouble for something, sir?” I told him that he was not in any trouble and handed him the envelope and told him “Merry Christmas.” I got in my patrol car and left. I could see them opening the envelope as I left.
- This afternoon I checked out with a couple in an alley on Midland. Two other officers checked out with me. There were three young children with them, and the father said that they had been picking up cans for some extra cash. We called the two adults to the front of our vehicle, and it was obvious that they thought they were in trouble. We told them that a donation had been made and that on behalf of the Fort Smith Police Department we felt compelled to help them out. Both were overcome with emotion and were very grateful. The mother was in tears, and the father shook everyone’s hand. They said this was the first time that the police had ever given him money and that this was definitely going on Facebook. Both had tears in their eyes and couldn’t seem to find the words to thank the FSPD. It wasn’t until after the gift was given that we learned that the woman is pregnant with twins.
- After searching the city for the right person to give the Christmas money to, I remembered a conversation that I had with a gentleman at a low-income apartment complex in Fort Smith. He lives with his wife and three children at the apartments. He recently lost his job and was depressed about not being able to provide for his family. He was also depressed that Christmas was approaching, and he would not be able to provide a good Christmas for his children. About two weeks ago I stopped at an accident with injuries, and when I arrived, I found that he and his family were involved in the accident. They were stopped at a red light, and another vehicle rear-ended them. The vehicle that they were driving is their only vehicle, and it received heavy damage. When I stopped at the accident and made contact the gentleman, he broke down into tears. I talked to him for a few minutes to try to make him feel better about his situation, but he was very upset. Tonight, I went to his apartment and made contact with him. I explained to him that the police department had received a donation and that we were passing it out to members of the community who we thought could use it to provide a better Christmas for their families. He and his wife cried and thanked me repeatedly for the money. They said that this money could not have came at a better time. I believe that this experience is something that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
- I located a female walking east on Rogers Avenue. She said her boyfriend had bought her some boots, and she was taking the boots back, even though they were everything she had wanted. The couple needed the money spent on the boots for food for them and her kids. She was walking to the mall. I explained the secret Santa gift to her and gave her the secret Santa gift. She started crying and said with the money that was in the envelope she could actually keep the boots and still get what was needed for the kids. She was very cold, so, I gave her a ride back to her residence. She kept thanking me and whoever the secret Santa was for the gift this Christmas.
- I was sent to a suspicious subject call. I arrived and made contact with a young white male. He was sitting outside with two trash bags full of clothing and said he had been asked to leave the house he was staying in. He said he was waiting for a friend to come pick him up. He was very polite towards me. I explained the situation of the secret Santa donation and gave him the envelope with the money. He asked me it if was a joke, and I told him it was not. He opened the envelope and said he felt like he was going to have a heart attack. He said after having one of the worst days of his life and not knowing what he was going to do, this gave him hope. I told him Merry Christmas, and he shook my hand and told me thank you.
- I gave my $50 to a local restaurant employee. She has been working to correct some mistakes she made when she was younger. Her son has recently been allowed to come back home, and she is working hard to provide for her family. She seemed very deserving.
- I gave my envelope away to a father and daughter. She was in foster care until several months ago. Her dad is a recovering alcoholic and has been sober for about a year. I asked if she was going to have a good Christmas, and she said “not really.” She said they really didn’t have the money and just recently moved, so, money was tight. The father is working and when I gave them the envelope there was joy and screams of happiness. He said God must have sent you. Needless to say, they were very appreciative of the gift.
- I was dispatched in reference to a breaking and entering to a vehicle. Upon my arrival, I made contact with a female. She stated that someone had broken into her vehicle that was parked in her driveway. Several vehicles have been broken into in this area last night. She told me that her vehicle will not lock. She reported that a couple of items in her vehicle had been taken. Among some of the items taken were two Christmas presents that were given to her two small children by the clearing house. Her children are two and eight years old. She said that she did not know what the presents were, but her children knew she had them. She is a single mom and is on disability. I gave her the $50 secret Santa money. She started crying and was very thankful.
- I gave my secret Santa money away to a woman I saw walking into Walmart, and she had five small children with her. She was very thankful but didn’t say anything more than “thank you.” There were big big smiles from mom and the kids.
- I gave my money to a female employee of a fast food restaurant on Rogers Ave. She was very happy and grateful for the money. She was the victim of a third-degree battery case and was afraid to stay at home on account of her boyfriend.
- I gave the money to a local convenience store employee. She works two jobs, has kids and grandkids and has not been able to buy gifts yet. I’ve seen her use her own money to help customers who were a few dollars short pay for their items on multiple occasions. I explained what we were doing and handed her the envelope. She was quiet for a few moments and then smiled. She said thank you and planned to use the money to pay for gas so she could see her grandkids and daughter in Missouri for Christmas.
- I made contact with a local convenience store clerk while he was at work. He was outside on his break when I arrived, and I waved him over to my unit. I exited my unit and gave him the envelope which contained $50 cash. He was very excited and gave me a hug. I’ve known him for several months now by going into the store for coffee. He is one of the friendliest people I’ve ever made contact with since I’ve been employed at the Fort Smith Police Department. He and his wife recently had a baby, and he was going to spend the money on his baby daughter for Christmas. This made his and my day!
- I went to Toys-R-Us and looked around. I overheard a lady talking on the phone saying that she didn’t have the money to buy one of the toys for her kid. After she hung up the phone, I made contact with her, introduced myself and gave her the envelope. She thanked me several times and shook my hand.
- I was given an envelope and searched for someone. I finally decided on a younger mother who was walking to the store and had her daughter (about five years old) who was riding a bike beside her. I made contact with them and talked to the little girl mostly. I gave her the envelope, and she said “Oh, thank you so much.” She did not open it, but after I wished them a Merry Christmas, they went on their way.