Christmas arrived a little early Saturday for 55 children who shopped with “elves” from the Elgin Police Department at the Meijer store on Randall Road.
Among those elves was Samantha Martinez, an auxiliary security officer for whom the event had special meaning.
“When I was a kid, maybe 7, I went Christmas shopping with Elgin police at the old Walmart location. All I wanted was a bicycle, and I was able to get the bike,” Martinez, 25, said.
Now that she works for the police department, she sees helping out with the shopping event for children in need as coming full circle and giving back to the community, she said.
Martinez, parking officer Luis Lara and Police Explorers member Luis Ramirez assisted Tierrha Jefferson and her three children as they shopped for gifts that included Orbeez toys, a basketball and pajamas. Jefferson said she appreciated the shopping excursion, which helped her and her family during the holiday season.
“It was great to help them shop and to see the smiles on the kids’ faces,” Lara said.
Elgin police financial analyst Lacey Roberts said the department has been holding the event with Meijer since about 2014. Each year, Meijer donates $5,000 and the police union adds $500.
“This was the first year we requested donations from the community via the department’s Facebook and Instagram pages. We received an additional $300 from the social media notifications for a total of $5,800.” Roberts said.
The participating children and their families were selected by Elgin school resource officers and neighborhood ROPE officers and suggested by police department personnel. Each child received $100 that they could use to buy anything other than gift or cash cards.
Some officers put in their own money to provide beyond that for those with whom they shopped, Roberts said. The department also provided teddy bears and candy for all the children.
“I love truly connecting with Elgin families,” Police Chief Chief Ana Lalley said. “It’s the most rewarding part of the job. This event provides that opportunity and is my favorite event of the year.”
Lalley and police social services caseworker Vanessa Botti shopped with a family with five children, filling two carts with gifts.
“We love giving back to the community, with a focus on children,” said Teja Harris, the Elgin Meijer store’s human resources manager.
Happy with how things went Saturday, Roberts said she was already looking forward to next year’s shopping event.
“We’d like to make it bigger. Every year we have a waiting list. If we can get more donations next time we can help more families,” she said.
And for those who would like to help make the holidays brighter for Elgin area families in need this year, Elgin Salvation Army Maj. Roberto Viquez said Saturday his organization is still looking for donations of toys, clothing and other items it can provide to 200 additional families.
The Elgin Salvation Army will be distributing the gifts on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 19-20, at the Salvation Army Elgin Corps Community Center.
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To arrange to make a donation, call 847-741-2304 or email [email protected].
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.