Gig Harbor police treat local students with 12th annual Holiday Heroes program

The annual Holiday Heroes program from the Gig Harbor Police Department returned Tuesday to bring some holiday cheer to eight Peninsula School District students.

Sponsored by the Jaycox Gig Harbor Police Benevolent Fund, the event pairs a student with either an officer from the GHPD or a trooper from the Washington State Patrol.

The day begins with breakfast and activities at the Boys & Girls Club Cheney Family Branch and then continues at the Gig Harbor Target, where students shop first for their families and then pick some things out for themselves, said Gig Harbor Police Chief Kelly Busey.

“These are kids that are at social or economic disadvantage,” Busey said. “They are referred to us by the Peninsula School District.”

The eight students who participated in this year’s event are between third and fifth grade.

The chosen gifts are wrapped with the help of members from the Gig Harbor Soroptomists Club and then the group returns to the Boys & Girls Club for lunch.

After lunch, the students receive a tour of the Gig Harbor Police Station and then are transported back to school in a police vehicle, complete with lights and sirens.

This is the 12th annual Holiday Heroes event and is sponsored by funds from the Jaycox Gig Harbor Police Benevolent Fund, along with donations from private donors, the Gig Harbor Soroptomists Club, the Gig Harbor Kiwanis and Target.

“It was perfect,” Busey said of the event. “It went really well.”

This story was originally published December 7, 2016 at 10:12 AM with the headline "Gig Harbor police treat local students with 12th annual Holiday Heroes program."