Most children are eager to open gifts during the holidays.
This year, Santa will make a special trip on Christmas Eve.
Escorted by Voorhees police and fire personnel, Santa will deliver presents to less fortunate children as a part of the Voorhees
Police Department’s annual holiday fund drive.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 11 percent of Camden County’s population is below poverty level.
During the holiday season, Voorhees Police Department collects as much as it can to help Voorhees residents, as well as residents of the surrounding who are struggling financially.
Event coordinator Stephanie Fowler said if the department receives requests for assistance and there are no longer funds to help, they try their best to direct them to someone who can.
“If we have the funds to do it we help them. If we don’t, we try to guide them in another direction. We have never had a problem using the funds to help families,” she said.
For about 12 years, the department has been collecting money to help local families in need and by buying gifts and sometimes providing food before the holidays, she said.
“In past years, we have raised anywhere between $8,000 and $18,000,” Fowler said.
Fowler collects the wish lists and buys each item.
The year $18,000 was raised, local businesses were notified that the department wanted to raise money to send a local family to Disney and bought a used a minivan for the family to use, event coordinator Stephanie Fowler said. One family member was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, she said.
Fowler said businesses donated extra that year.
She said the police and fire departments play a large role in the process.
Officers and Voorhees police personnel take the time to put together bikes, battery powered cars and more, Fowler said.
She said local businesses contributed largely to the donation process as well as some contributions from residents.
Fire Chief Jim Pacifico said his department is more involved on the delivery end, but they help as much as they can.
Pacifico had the opportunity to help deliver the presents one year.
“It’s a very heart-warming experience to know that we can assist our local families in need,” he said.
Most of the children shy away when Santa visits, Fowler said.
The holiday drive is more than just delivering presents to children in need. While others show joy in seeing Santa arrive at their home with special gifts for them.
“It’s the smiles on the children’s faces and the gratitude and tears in the parents’ eyes that keep us going from year to year,” Fowler said.
Involving the police and fire departments show the children they should not be afraid of emergency response members.
“Some kids are afraid of the police and fire. It’s a way to let them know that we are there,” Fowler said.
The department is collecting monetary donations to help fund gifts for children.
“We are trying to make their Christmas dreams come true. A lot of these children have never had their wish list fulfilled. We try to give them a special year to remember,” Fowler said.
Donations can be made in person or by mail. Cash or check donations can be sent to the Voorhees Police Holiday Fund, 1180 White Horse Road, Voorhees, NJ, 08043, attention to Stephanie Fowler.
Deadline for the holiday fund donations is on Friday, Dec. 21.
For more information, call Fowler at the police department at 882–1162.
