Tampa Republic

Members of the Tampa Police Department will be spreading holiday cheer to over 50 children from the Tampa community by transforming into Santa's elves. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, December 13, 2023, aims to not only bring joy to the children but also build relationships and give back to the community.

Chief Lee Bercaw expressed the importance of the event, stating, "Every child deserves to enjoy a happy holiday season, with this event also providing another opportunity for us to build relationships with our youth and give back to our community." The Tampa Police Department wants the children to know that they will always be there to protect and support them and their families.

The shopping spree will take place at the Target located at 1544 N. Dale Mabry Highway, starting at 4:00 p.m. Each child, ranging in age from six to 17, has been personally selected by a Tampa Police officer or employee who identified their need for assistance in the community. Every child will receive a pre-loaded gift card, valued at approximately $200, to spend however they choose. As part of a long-standing tradition, each child will be required to purchase a gift for someone important in their lives.

Target employees will provide gift-wrap to the officers, who will then assist the children in wrapping the gifts they have purchased before they head home. This heartwarming initiative has been made possible through the generous donations from the community and corporate partners to Rise Tampa, Our Police Foundation.

This event showcases the commitment of the Tampa Police Department to foster positive relationships with the community, especially with the younger generation. It is an opportunity for the police officers to connect with the children and show them that the police are not only here to enforce the law but also to support and care for the community they serve.

Through this event, the Tampa Police Department hopes to make a lasting impact on the lives of these children, ensuring that they have a memorable and joyful holiday season.

For more information about the Tampa Police Department and their community initiatives, please visit their website or contact them at 306 East Jackson Street, Tampa, Florida 33602, (813) 274-8211.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.tampa.gov/news/2023-12/tampa-police-transform-santas-elves-community-kids-133136