Putting things in perspective

[LOWRIVER2]

I don't come around here much, too busy with life these days. Thought this was worth posting, take it for what it's worth:
Our platoon selects a school in LA each year to do toy drive/delivery and our guys get the gifts. We selected a school at 58th/Vermont this year which is sort of a head start program (K-3rd). Santa (our senior squad leader) did the Santa gig and handed out the gifts and we got to have the rare chance to see children happy to see us and ask all the funny questions they ask which makes us all remember why we do this job.
At the end of the drive, we left and had a de brief over at 77th station. Our Santa told us each year he does this, he has a kid pull at his heart. One of the 8 yr. old girls replied this year when asked by Santa what she wanted: "a bed" Last year a boy replied "pajamas".
I'm no preacher and certainly not any advocate, just wanted share that in the season of giving where all of us have a roof, bed and pajamas, remember those who don't.
That's it, happy holidays, stay safe
LR

[Wicky]

Merry Xmas LR!!! Where's my video??
Mow,
Wicky

[slink]

I don't come around here much, too busy with life these days. Thought this was worth posting, take it for what it's worth:
Our platoon selects a school in LA each year to do toy drive/delivery and our guys get the gifts. We selected a school at 58th/Vermont this year which is sort of a head start program (K-3rd). Santa (our senior squad leader) did the Santa gig and handed out the gifts and we got to have the rare chance to see children happy to see us and ask all the funny questions they ask which makes us all remember why we do this job.
At the end of the drive, we left and had a de brief over at 77th station. Our Santa told us each year he does this, he has a kid pull at his heart. One of the 8 yr. old girls replied this year when asked by Santa what she wanted: "a bed" Last year a boy replied "pajamas".
I'm no preacher and certainly not any advocate, just wanted share that in the season of giving where all of us have a roof, bed and pajamas, remember those who don't.
That's it, happy holidays, stay safe
LR
LR2, Great job. We do a similar thing here in Corona. Officers "adopt" a child in need from local schools/shelters. The kids make a wish lists for what they would like Santa to bring them and we do our best to make them come true. This year I adopted a 4 yr old girl who only wants a new pair of shoes and a jacket (she's also getting a bike :) ) . My partner adopted a 5 yr old boy. The only thing on his list was a christmas tree. Turns out the kid has NEVER had a christmas tree :frown: It is overwhelming to see these kids recieve items they would have never had a chance to have.

[Havasu Hangin']

Nice job, LOWRIVER.
Glad to hear nobody got jacked, shot, or stabbed.

[BarryMac]

Great Job Lowriver, makes you really look at what the important things in life are...

[Boatcop]

Nice job, LOWRIVER.
Glad to hear nobody got jacked, shot, or stabbed.
Remember, he said it was K-3rd.
That kind of stuff doesn't happen til 5th grade out there. :D
At our Dept. we have an Angel Tree in our lobby. Under privileged kids from throughout the County make a paper Angel with their name and a gift listed on it. The Officers and the public come in and take an Ange and get the gift for that child. On Christmas Eve the Deputies deliver it to their homes.
Our local Supermarket usually has a turkey give away deal around Thanksgiving. You know, buy $250 with your "Club Card" and get a certificate for a free turkey. For the past 10 years, I've been donating my free Turkey (Some years, 2 or 3 of them) for families at Christmas time.
It's really sad that a lot of our poor kids are poor because Dad and/or Mom are tweakers, or victims of Domestic Violence, or some other easily curable problem. It's good for them to see us in a positive light, rather than hauling their folks off to jail.

[Desert Rat]

Great Job guys!!! It is great that you show these kids that cops are the good guys (most of the time :D )Do most station houses have this angel tree or something like it?
Boatcop if you need an Angel or two taken care of let me know I'll send you what you need to cover it. Being in Cali I can't just walk in and grap one or I would.
Merry Christmas Everyone

[LOWRIVER2]

I sense a little negativity in your post HH, pm me if you have a problem you'd like to discuss.
It's great to see all the guys helping out the kids out there. I did'nt mention it but four of our guys and "Santa" ride into the school lot on their own harley's escorted by motor units and we pull our cruisers in behind with all the sirens. An airship does a 250ft. circle with the siren too. The kids go wild. It's easy to forget about the happiness of these kids with all the other stuff we do day in and day out.

[Dawn Patrol]

LOWRIVER2,
Great Job!!

[Cs19]

Lowriver, great post. Nice meeting you over the summer, you are good people. See you next summer...cs19

[SandbarScot]

We've got a great program in Lake Elsinore called Cops for Kids. Low River's stories are very similar. Bringing presents to kids who have nothing under the tree, and often no tree (sometimes we bring them one) changes your perspective.
Three Christmases ago, I was helping with the Cops for Kids gift deliveries. I couldn't participate as much as I wanted that day because I was the day shift supervisor and had to remain available.
About 2 hours after all the teams were done delivering presents to the underpriviledged houses, we got a call.
Unfortunately, the gang violence didn't stop for the holidays. A 14 year old boy took one to the head. I'll leave out the details, but seeing him lying dead in a dirt lot next to the low income houses on the same day that we saw some of the kids faces light up when we delivered presents in that same neighborhood really made me realize what a different world my kids and I live in.
Its time to appreciate everything we have.

[Havasu Hangin']

I sense a little negativity in your post HH, pm me if you have a problem you'd like to discuss.
Huh?

[SHAKE-YO-AZZ]

Huh?
boy you open month insert foot, just because it's LA dosent mean you will get JACKED, SHOT or STABBED WTF :mad:

[Havasu Hangin']

boy you open month insert foot, just because it's LA dosent mean you will get JACKED, SHOT or STABBED WTF :mad:
Go back and read his posts over the years, newbie. In almost every one there was someone getting jacked, shot, stabbed, etc.
I was saying that it must have been nice not to be involved in violence for once, and still help the community.

[SHAKE-YO-AZZ]

I sense a little negativity in your post HH, pm me if you have a problem you'd like to discuss.
mmmmmm I guess he felt the same
you cant tell me much about So Central I worked it for 18 years.

[Havasu Hangin']

mmmmmm I guess he felt the same
you cant tell me much about So Central I worked it for 18 years.
LOWRIVER and I have had our differences over the years. Without getting into that, we seem to have a running joke that somehow he always relates posts to his work (like this (http://www.***boat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54200)).
As far as helping kids, that hits a little closer to home for me. Mrs. HH teaches first grade, and one of her first jobs was in a "less than perfect" neighborhood. It was very sad to see all the grief these kids had to go through. Christmas was secondary when some of them couldn't even have jackets for the wintertime, among other things. I have two young ones of my own.
So my post stands. Take it how you want- I guess it depends on if you are a "half full" or "half empty" kind of person.
Nice job, LOWRIVER.
Take it how you want.

[SHAKE-YO-AZZ]

HH, its no biggie I just see where you are coming from. I took it as you posted it if you would have posted it the other way in which you said you were tring to say, I would have taken it that way. But in any case I guess its typical coming from you.

[topless]

Great job Gary. It makes me feel inferior not to be giving to children in this season thats suppose to be full of joy. Thats it! I'm going to give something to a needy child this year and I'm going to have my kids do it too. I'm sitting here now feeling like a shmuck. As for you HH, you should be ashamed you selfish bastard! :hammerhea

[Kilrtoy]

love to heard stories like that, but the stories thatthe kids tell you break your heart and it makes you realize how lucky you are........