KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
December 17, 2024
By Natalie Cook Clark
The Katy ISD Police Department’s Santa Cops program continues to share the holiday spirit going 22 years strong. This year the program will provide Christmas gifts to over 800 Katy students.
Photo credit: Katy ISD Police Department
Santa Cops Program Continues to Grow
For 22 years, Katy ISD police officers have delivered holiday cheer to many children in the community. The Santa Cops program has grown from bringing gifts and cheer to 30 students in 2002 to over 1,000 students when needed. Last year they brought Christmas to 1,100 students and 608 Katy families. This year over 800 students were served.
Katy ISD Police Chief Henry Gaw continues be wowed by this program in his fifth year overseeing the department. He came from Houston Police Department, that also had a way to give back to students.
“It’s amazing how all of the toys and gifts we collect each year transform our Police Station into a Christmas wonderland,” says Chief Henry Gaw, Katy ISD Police Department. “We cannot thank everyone enough for helping to make our students’ Christmas bright.”
Nearly 200 community sponsors came together to help this program be a sucess once again and bring happiness to those students that elementary school counselors identified of needing a little more cheer this season.
Selected families will start picking up the gifts this week. Some families don’t have a means to pick up gifts. Those gifts will be delivered to the school counselors who will ensure their delivery.
Katy ISD Elementary Counselors Find Those in Need
School counselors submitted students' names to receive the donations. Families were assigned a number for picking up the wrapped toys, valued at $100 per child. They get a sense for numbers based on the free and reduced lunch program.
The Department reaches out to Katy ISD counselors each October to start finalizing numbers and assessing the need.
As Katy ISD continues to grow, the Katy ISD Police Department continues to foresee the continued need and growth of Santa Cops.
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