Lincoln Police and the Clyde Malone Center have teamed up to make the Christmas season bright for 50 needy families. The Malone Center’s Ishma Valenti says thanks to public donations to their Random Acts of Kindness Campaign, they were able to give each family an envelope with $300 cash.
“The impact is immediate, the impact is real and it’s genuine,” says Ishma Valenti, Community Engagement Director for the Malone Center. “People need the held that we’re offering and then you see the reactions of people, so happy, so appreciative.”
LPD Captain Tarvis Banks says officers gave out the envelopes to randomly selected families at Hope Spoke, Belmont Community Center and to people they met while patrolling. “It’s a great time seeing the reaction,” Banks says. “Some people cry, some people try to hug you. The officers love it, I love it.”
Valenti says being able to give back to the community during the holidays is one of the best parts of the holidays. He says $18,000 was raised this year and divides up among the families. “They may need that for a light bill, they may need that to buy food, they may go and buy Christmas gifts.”
This is the fourth year for the program.
(Photos: Lincoln Police Department)