Holiday Gifts

In 1990, the organization's treasurer, Debbi Chitwood suggested that a program be put into place where age- appropriate new gifts be selected, wrapped and sent to survivor children at holiday time and at the time of each child's birthday in honor of their mother or father who was killed in the line of duty. Volunteering time on her weekends, a special computer program was devised by our archival records director to keep track of the ages and birthdays of the children.

In a decade, the program has grown from a concept to a reality where the kids look forward to their gifts from AFP&CC and write notes of thanks back which we share with our members, donors and friends.  Last year alone 833 survivor children were sent holiday and birthday gifts and in recent years we have added the names of children of disabled and paralyzed officers with the assistance of the National Association of Chiefs of Police.  This is a program that warms the hearts of the kids, our concerned citizens and our staff alike who have already begun to select gifts for the 2000 Christmas season!

Mothers and Father's Day Program
There is such a special relationship that exists between mothers and fathers who lost an officer in the line of duty. AFP&CC recognizes this fact and ensures that at Mother's Day and again at Father's Day a card is sent in memory of the loved one who paid the ultimate sacrifice along with a small memento to be held as a keepsake. The feedback of both mothers and fathers to this program has been excellent and this program will continue in the new millennium, as well.

Thanksgiving Day...An American Holiday
To have lost a loved one in the line of duty and experience the first Thanksgiving day with an empty place at the table makes Thanksgiving a bittersweet day for many new survivors. The organization expanded its Thanksgiving Day program of remembrance during 1999 and ensured that each family who had lost a loved one in the prior twelve months was sent monies to provide a traditional American thanksgiving dinner "with all the trimmings". In most cases it was not the financial need to provide the dinner as much as it was a gesture that the organization, as well as the department who suffered the loss was maintaining contact as the holiday season approached. The response from survivors was one of heartfelt appreciation and this program will continue in the year 2000.