A Gift to Families

Dec 28, 2020 12:00AM ● By Submitted by Larissa Wasilevsky, CHPD

From left to right: Adopted family, Justin Stevenson (Detective), Tiffany Campbell (Support Services Supervisor), Paul Reyes, John Standley (Fleet Technician), Teresa Dawn (Program Assistant), Kris Frey (Lieutenant), and Nicholas Oldwin (Detective). Photo by Larissa Wasilevsky/CHPD

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Citrus Heights Youth and Families Receive Holiday Joy

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Despite being a most unusual year for all, 2020 has proven to be another huge success for the Citrus Heights Police Department’s Holiday Referral Program. This success was again made possible as a result of the outpouring of community support and volunteerism within the city of Citrus Heights. This year nearly 250 Citrus Heights residents benefited from the program in some capacity. Even though the traditional high-energy police convoy through the city to visit a number of selected adopted families was not possible due to COVID, more than the usual holiday cheer was spread throughout the community. Twenty-seven adopted families were presented with an amazing number of gifts and all the items needed to provide a full holiday meal, during a drive-thru pick-up event at the police department on December 17.

All donated toys, blankets, food, clothing, gift cards and money were made possible by the generosity of over 70 donors, including several local businesses, local service clubs, volunteers, and City of Citrus Heights employees and community members. This wonderful event provided wrapped gifts to the adopted families including 89 children and 44 adults.

In addition, the families of Sayonara Drive also had their usual, albeit downsized police visit with an officer’s Holiday Wave Parade to greet them after they received their own 100 donated gifts, toys, blankets and stuffed animals at the Sayonara Youth Center. Since the usual high-energy, close contact with police officers’ event could not happen this year, Julie Habeeb, site director since 2015, spent more than two weeks at the center assembling donated items into bags of goodies for her 45 families. One of their major partners, Fair Oaks Church, makes sure each child gets at least one gift of their choice each year. Habeeb said of the event during a phone interview, “This is the best way to end the year to unite Sayonara families and the community.” The turnout of over 100 Sayonara children, their families and others to support them on December 17, stretched down the street and was much more than she had expected.

The Holiday Referral Program is a partnership between the City of Citrus Heights, the Citrus Heights Police Department’s Youth and Family program, local service clubs, businesses, schools and community members. It is funded by and made possible because of the generosity and the caring, kind spirit of the entire Citrus Heights community.

Larissa Wasilevsky, CHDP Public Information Officer, said in an email, “We are extremely grateful for the partnerships, friendships and unwavering support of the Citrus Heights Community and sincerely thank everyone who made this year’s Holiday Referral Program a wonderful success.” (The CHPD Youth & Family Services Unit is dedicated to the safety, development and protection of our community’s children.)

Adopting Families

American Legion Citrus Heights Post 637

Anonymous Citrus Heights Community Members

American Public Works Association (APWA)

Area 7 & 8 & 9 Neighborhood Associations

California Accounting

Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce

Citrus Heights Kiwanis Club

Citrus Heights Community Marching Band

Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) employees

CHPD Volunteers

CHPD Interns