Santa Cop and Heroes barn dance is a boot-scooting success

WASILLA — Let it never be said that cops don’t know how to throw a party.

Friday, a couple hundred Valley-ites, many dressed in cowboy hats and blue jeans, took over the turf fields at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center for the annual Santa Cop and Heroes barn dance.

On one side of the field, four tables, each 10-yards long, sat covered in silent auction items; everything from gift certificates to books to fancy soaps and Christmas decorations. Oh, and one pair of outdoorsman shears.

The walls were decked out in Christmas lights and gingerbread men, angels and tapestries bearing words like “hope” and “mercy.” On each table was a centerpiece made, in most cases, from a cowboy boot. There were empty shotgun shells stuffed with holly.

“You know me, just trying to get everything set up,” organizer Donna Anthony said as she ran back and forth, taping up signs and making sure everything was in place.

She said it was going great so far.

Anthony started the Santa Cop program seven years ago. It’s a senior citizens’ outreach program which delivers gifts and a hot meal to senior citizens every Christmas. Often the volunteers are the only people the seniors see that day.

“Our mission is to provide gifts, food and companionship to local Valley seniors on Christmas Day who do not have family or who do not have resources to make this day a reason to celebrate and otherwise may be alone,” according to the program’s Facebook page.

Over the years it has grown to include firefighters and medics — hence the phrase “and Heroes” added to the title last year. The program is also slowly turning into a year-round outreach effort. Sometimes deliveries of presents uncover some pretty unsafe living conditions. The program has worked to help seniors fix those ongoing problems where it is able.

As Anthony set up the signs, Scout Smith, who performs as “Scout,” took the stage with her guitar.

“We had her last year and she went to California and got a record deal,” Anthony said.

Ken Peltier said he invited her to open for him at the barn dance this year. He said he did pretty much the same thing when he opened for Trace Adkins. That was kind of a bigger deal, he said. He only had 40 minutes of stage time and he only gave some of it up because Scout is just that good.

“I’m sort of trying to help her along like other people have me. Not that she needs it,” he said. “She appreciates things and that’s what’s refreshing for me.”

Peltier said he was looking forward to playing in the Valley again and in a smoke-free environment.

“It’s very cool to play the Valley again and at such a noble event,” he said.

Charity events are a big part of what he does. He’s played for the Shriners, the Elks and for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

It’s nice “to see how the Valley community rises together when there’s a call,” Peltier said. “I just feel like the host of the party.”

Gifts and money for the program can be dropped off at the Wasilla or Palmer senior centers or the Wasilla or Palmer police departments. As Christmas approaches, the program also will need volunteers to man drop off stations and help wrap presents.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.