Starting in October, volunteers from the Grand Prairie Police Department and Fire Department worked tirelessly to bring food and toys to local families in need at the Santa Cop and Santa’s Spot headquarters, located at National Autobody Parts Warehouse, Inc.
This year, more than 400 families received food from the Grand Prairie Fire Department’s Santa’s Spot effort, and 1,500 children received toys from the Santa Cop efforts, according to volunteer Santa Cop Vice President Chris Chopin.
When Bob O’Neal, Grand Prairie director of Business and Retail Recruitment, and Heath Wester, Santa Cop vice president, approached Mike Dolabi, president of National Autobody Parts Warehouse, Inc. for a possible headquarters location for the program, Dolabi answered with an immediate yes.
“Giving back to the community and being a part of this cause is an honor, and we are proud to help,” he says. “Each year, our hearts are warmed and we are reminded of the importance of giving when we see people bringing toys, volunteers working late into the night and, on the final day, watching the U-hauls leave our facility to bring happiness to so many adults and children in Grand Prairie.”
“This changes your heart. We are now able to reach more families in Grand Prairie because of the way we distribute,” says Chris Chopin.
Santa Cop and Santa’s Spot toys and food was distributed at nine strategic locations throughout Grand Prairie. Families recommended by the Grand Prairie Police department, Fire Department, Grand Prairie school counselors and city departments, received postcards earlier this month and were asked to come and accept these gifts.
With a desire to bring the community together and provide toys for the children of Grand Prairie, volunteers from the Grand Prairie Police Department began the Santa Cop program in 1983. Now, working with the Grand Prairie Fire Department and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots, the Santa Cop and Santa’s Shop program has built a community bridge of support, food, toys and friendship.
The giving and community assistance does not stop with Christmas. As the year goes forward and tragedy strikes the Grand Prairie community and its citizens, the volunteers, working with the Grand Prairie Police Chaplin Emil Balliet, the Police Department Victim’s Assistance team and the Fire Department are able to respond with food and items of need to those who experience the unexpected.
“If it wasn’t for the volunteers, we couldn’t do this. And if it weren’t for National, we would not have a headquarters,” says Santa Cop President Mark Calvert.
