Wrapping up 2014: cops, responders will deliver seniors' gifts

MAT-SU — Roughly 100 volunteers came together Saturday to bring a little — or a lot — of the Christmas spirit to as many seniors this year by wrapping gifts purchased for specific individuals through the Santa Cop and Heroes program.

Santa Cop founder Donna Anthony was unable to attend much of the gift-wrapping festivities Saturday due to illness (it is that time of year), but cleared up a few misconceptions about the program by phone Friday.

Contrary to what was mistakenly reported in Friday’s paper, this year’s community effort still includes the Wasilla, Palmer and Anchorage police departments, among other organizations.

Joining the departments wrapping and delivering gifts are: the Big Lake (West Lakes), Butte, Houston, Palmer, Wasilla (Central Mat-Su), Sutton and Willow fire departments; the Alaska State Troopers from Palmer and Talkeetna; Mat-Su Emergency Services; the Alaska Department of Corrections; all the local city chambers of commerce; the Mat-Su Health Foundation; BP; the Elks Lodge; various Valley Lions Clubs; various schools, and more.

The Boom Town (Roller) Derby Dames, for example, fall under “and more.”

“This is actually one of my favorite things we actually do (as a team) all year,” said Derby Dame Lacey Rego at the gift-wrapping event.

Everyone seems to have their own reason for involvement.

Mat-Su Senior Services, for example, does distribute applications to the various senior centers in the Valley, which then push them out via the Meals on Wheels program, but their main role is to act as the supporting nonprofit organization. With all the money brought in by fundraisers and grants throughout the year, Santa Cop needed to do business through a 501(c)3 company, thus the connection with Senior Services.

Senior Services employees also participate in the gift-wrapping.

For R & R productions, Santa Cop and fundraising in general is a family affair.

Owners Lou and Evelyn Sizemore have facilitated the Barn Dance and come with their three daughters to gift-wrap presents for seniors for the past few years. Though they did not host a dance this year, Anthony said they will this coming spring, so as not to conflict with the multitude of fundraisers that happen in the fall.

“This is such a neat thing,” Evelyn Sizemore said, of Santa Cop and Heroes.

Seniors can sometimes get lost in the shuffle of their younger family members’ everyday lives, which is sad to see, she said, but programs like Santa Cop remind her, and others, to take the time to do something nice for someone else, and not neglect those who feel alone on Christmas.

Customs and Border Protection officer Carol Fant said she decided to be a Santa to two seniors this year, in addition to delivering gifts to 10 seniors with her husband on Christmas day, mostly because she doesn’t have anyone else at home to buy gifts for.

“My kids are all grown so this is a lot of fun,” Fant said.

The recommended budget for each senior’s presents is $100, but Fant said she spent a little more than that. Anthony called it “spoiling,” in good humor, but the volunteers tell her they like to do it. (Also, donations can really come from just about anyone, and extra gifts not mentioned specifically on seniors’ wish lists often roll in with volunteers on wrapping day.)

Butte firefighter David Hale, also of Hale Construction and Chimneys R Us, is new to Santa Cop this year, but is already doubly involved. In addition to delivering gifts on Christmas day, Hale will install a door donated by Spenard Builder’s Supply in one elderly woman’s home, as the current door has been damaged in such a way that makes entry and exit unsafe.

He and his wife Heidi and little daughter Anna also wrapped presents on Saturday.

“We like to do other things on Christmas besides (give) our own gifts,” he said. “It’s really about others.”

Contact Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.