Holidays With Heroes - KGWN –Cheyenne, WY– Scottsbluff, NE News,Weather, Sports
This time of year we're concerned about making sure all the kids get Christmas gifts, but a Cheyenne police officer started up a program for less fortunate families to help give the entire family a happy holiday.
Growing up, Officer Jose Ruiz didn't have a lot.
"Our ideal basketball hoop was a milk jug that had the tops and bottoms cut off of it," Ruiz said.
He was inspired to begin "Holidays With Heroes" because of something that happened to him at Christmas.
"The main motivation for the program is something that I had gone through when I was a child. Police officers delivered Christmas gifts to my family when we were younger," Ruiz said.
There's a lot of programs that collect toys for kids, but Officer Ruiz wanted to help out more than just the kids.
"It's mainly for the whole family. We take items that range from electronics to monetary donations to toys, to toiletries," Ruiz said.
Ruiz has set up drop boxes at businesses all over Cheyenne up till December 26 in hopes to bring Christmas to as many families as possible.
Other emergency agencies have also decided to help pitch in to get the word out about the program.
They'll be teaming up with Officer Ruiz for a donation drive tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
"We'll have crews up at K-Mart and we'll have crews over at the east side Fitness One and you can bring your donations over to that location whether it's monetary or a material type donation," said Derek Pollnow of Cheyenne Fire and Rescue.
"Holidays With Heroes" is in it's fourth year and it's been able to help more families every year, but it's the smiles on the faces of the families that are thanks enough for Ruiz.
"It's just paying it forward for what I've been fortunate enough to have," Ruiz said.
More information on "Holidays With Heroes" can be found on the facebook pages of Cheyenne Police and the Cheyenne Fire Department.
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