'Our elders mean so much; we should give so much back to them': Santa Cop and Heroes delivers Christmas to most vulnerable seniors

The season of giving is here, and the residents of the Mat-Su Borough never fail to help out those who might need an extra boost during the holidays. Thanks to the efforts of Santa Cop and Heroes, that boost extends to isolated and vulnerable seniors throughout the Mat-Su Borough.

“We invite every senior to apply and our community steps in to make it happen,” says Amberly Breja, Impact Director for Northgate Alaska. She also serves as the President of Santa Cop and Heroes program.

Breja works with other nonprofits, such as Meals on Wheels, to help identify vulnerable seniors who might benefit from a little extra boost during the holidays.

She says that they identify vulnerable and isolated seniors who are interested, and after they go through the applications, typically in October and November, the call is put out for community assistance, which is usually answered within a matter of weeks, if not days.

Once the lists have been fulfilled, police, fire, and others deliver the gifts on Christmas Day. This also gives them the opportunity to do a wellness check, and make notes of anything that may be of immediate danger, such as loose wiring or leaks, and work to take care of them.

This year, when the call went out for Santa Cop sponsors, the community response was so overwhelming that Breja took it a step further.

“We don’t turn away volunteers and people willing to help, and since the seniors we are helping are covered, we are helping Ukrainian refugee families.”

Identifying shortfalls, reaching out, and finding ways to help out isn’t a job for Breja, but a part of her DNA.

“I am a systems builder, and during the pandemic it drove me nuts that we didn’t have a clear way to help. So for me, you make systems that create benefaction, make people feel really well cared for, and in a moment of crisis, you’re also ready to step in.”

That was a catalyst for taking on the Santa Cop program. The origins of the Santa Cop program dates back to 2005 when Donna Anthony came up with the idea while part of the Palmer Police Department, and officers would see elderly residents struggling, freezing, or at risk in their homes. Using their personal funds, officers would take care of them. From there, a wish list program began whereupon any senior who was isolated, without family around for the holidays.

“If you don’t have people around during your high moments, you probably don’t have them during the low ones either,” says Breja.

The Santa Cop program is part of a larger umbrella program called iAMSOMEBODY, which Breja is the Program Director. The mission is to build relationship with at-risk individuals by providing for a basic need and introducing to ongoing positive and preventative connections.

“This umbrella is big enough to cover any at-risk group,” she says, adding, “We build these relationships by providing foundational needs and introducing them to ongoing positive, preventative connections.”

The other programs that fall under this umbrella is the annual Back-to-School Shoe Giveaway and Carnival, and the Snow Gear Giveaway, both of which are very well received.

“We worked with the Mat-Su School nurses to help identify kids that might need a snow suit, as well as refugee agencies, and then local groups, Fred Meyer, the Mat-Su Health Foundation, all helped to get full sets of snow gear to kids who were confirmed to be in great danger of not having sufficient gear to even go to recess.”

Over the summer served, iAMSOMEBODY distributed 1800 pairs of shoes, fitting brand new shoes to kids’ feet in preparation for school.

Breja says the Santa Cop program, along with their other programs are all about connections. By reaching out, identifying and working with families that need a little help, if there is ever an emergency, such as the windstorm earlier this year, or another pandemic, Northgate will be able to step in and be there to help

“Because we have the relationship with the seniors who don’t have friends and family, we are building preemptive alliances to stand on their behalf in the case of a declared emergency.”

The Santa Cop program isn’t just limited to Christmas. During the pandemic, Breja and the Santa Cop program applied for a grant and was able to facilitate food boxes for food boxes and delivered them to homebound seniors. They also ensured wellness checks with trained volunteers and stabilizing basics during wind storm.

“In the end, we have to build support. Every rung on the circle, from our youngest to our elders matter. You receive from your elders so much, and we need so much from them. Our elders mean so much; we should give so much back to them.”