Saving Christmas for kids

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on December 22, 2016

Dan Foltz, president of the Garnet Valley Alumni Association, and Tpr. Tim Greene, community service officer for Troop K, Media barracks, stand with toys earmarked for 25 needy children in the region. Troopers, the alumni association and others made the effort possible.

Pennsylvania State Police troopers, along with the Garnet Valley Alumni Association and other unnamed organizations have teamed up to give 25 kids some Christmas joy this year.

According to Tpr. Tim Greene, the community services officers at the state police Media barracks, troopers there adopt a family every Christmas season. This year the troopers reached out to the Garnet Valley alumni, along with a couple of other organizations to provide gifts and food for those in need.

Greene said the troop initially looked to help one family in the Adopt-a-Family program, but that effort drew more support than anticipated.

“It started out with one family, but with the generous donations from troopers, friends of troopers and the Garnet Valley Alumni Association, we were actually able to expand that to where we have at least 25 kids that we’re helping this holiday season,” Greene said.

“It feels good to help out people in need,” he added. “It’s the right thing to do. We’re blessed. And because we’re blessed, we should help those who are in need.”

Dan Foltz, president of the Garnet Valley Alumni Association agreed with Greene on the need to give.

“The association wants to give back and pay forward to communities in the region, and we thought what better organization to partner with than the Pennsylvania State Police,” Foltz said as he stood by a table full of toys.

He said the alumni association — with more than 10,000 graduates — has spread for beyond the school district, with members eager to find positive solutions for people in need, especially around the holiday season.

“It’s about making a positive impact in the entire community,” he said.

Neither Foltz, nor Greene specified the number of families that will be receiving gifts, but Foltz said it was more than a dozen.

“We’ve been able to bring joy and have the opportunity to show that, as a community, we partner with the state police and other organizations to make an impact…Giving this time of year, and throughout the year, is important,” Foltz added.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.