Louisville police officers spread Christmas cheer to seniors with personalized 'holiday bags'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville Metro Police Officers and the Metro Police Foundation are banding together to bring senior citizens the holiday cheer this season.

Officers and members of the foundation will gift "holiday bags" to seniors at the Wilderness Senior Center on Blue Lick Road throughout the month of December. The longstanding tradition aims to bring joy to those who may be overlooked during the holidays.

"Through the foundation, we partner with Meijer," Officer Tonya Rocky Landry said. "They help support us, and we go out to our Wilderness Center, Senior Center, out in the 7th Division."

Seniors at the center will create wish lists — many filled with practical gifts like books, coffee mugs, socks and more. These wish lists allow officers and members of the foundation to put together personalized gift bags in hopes to provide something that makes their holiday a bit brighter.

"A lot of them want books or coffee mugs or socks or a big thing," Landry said. "It's really just whatever little item they want for the holiday."

In addition to gift-giving, the event also connects senior citizens to these officers.

"They are always so appreciative to get one-on-one contact with an officer and talk about everything that's going on in the community," Landry said. "I think they just appreciate that they're a demographic that, during the holidays, we don't always focus on. We're usually focused on kids because they're so excited about Santa."

The event is made possible by the Louisville Metro Police Foundation, and donations are welcome to help support future initiatives like this one. To find out how to donate to the foundation, click here.

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