WEST LINN POLICE PLAY SANTA’S ELVES

Dressed in their sharp blue uniforms, they didn’t look much like Santa’s elves. But members of the West Linn Police Department really played their roles well.

First, police collected more than $2,700 in donations from businesses and individuals in the community. Then, on Dec. 19, they took 12 children from down-on-their-luck families on a shopping trip at the Oregon City Fred Meyer store for Christmas gifts they couldn’t otherwise afford.

Officers accompanied the parents and children on winding journeys through the aisles. While listening intently to what the children wanted, they offered advice on how to stretch a dollar.

The families – especially the adults – said they really appreciated the boost.

“This will really help us,” said Eva Chapin, whose children, 9-year-old Adam and 8-year-old Amelia, attend Sunset Primary School. “We had a lot of things going wrong at our home this year. Flooding made us put money into things

we really needed, so this was going to be a hard Christmas for us.”

Eileen Tate shuttled her grandchildren – Khloie, 8, Kaedyn, 7, and Khailinn, 1½, around the store, placing carefully selected items in a shopping cart.

“This year has been a hard year for the kids,” said Tate, whose older grandchildren attend Bolton Primary School. “They’re not with their parents right now and they’ve been having a rough time at school, too. This will definitely help.”

Officer Jeff Halverson came up with the idea for “West Linn Christmas.” Halverson said he appreciates the good that the Clackamas County Peace Officers’ Benevolent Foundation does every year with its “Shop With A Cop” program.

“We have taken part in that in the past,” Halverson said. “But we wanted to do our own, to keep it even closer to the local community.

“You know, a lot of people think of West Linn as an affluent community,” Halverson said. “That may be true for some families, but we have residents from all socio-economic classes in town. At Christmas time, things can get tight for some of them.”

So Halverson took the idea to his direct supervisor, Sgt. Oddis Rollins, who gave it a thumbs-up and sent it all the way up the chain of command.

Halverson and other officers then began approaching local businesses and agencies. He said he was gratified to see donations rolling in from Fixoid, The Barbers, Willamette Coffee House, A&B Towing, Summit Chiropractic, Linn City Pub, CTB Investments LLC, Advantis Credit Union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1660, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, Dr. Matthew Roane, Fred Meyer and the West Linn Police Benefit Association – as well as gifts from donors who wished to remain anonymous.

At the same time, police asked the counselors at each of the five primary schools within West Linn’s city limits to nominate children whose families may be having a tough time holding the Grinch at bay.

“The counselors really know the kids and their individual situations,” Halverson said. “They hear from the classroom teachers and, sometimes, directly from the kids.”

Patience Rynerson, whose daughter, Stephanie, 10, attends Cedar Oak Primary School, said her family still was struggling to recover from the upheaval of moving.

“We’re still recuperating from relocating from Southern Oregon,” Rynerson said. “We came up here from Klamath Falls to look for work. What the community has done for us here has been a blessing.”

As the little shopping expeditions made their way around the displays, Scott Jacobs, the store director, said the Fred Meyer staff was honored to help.

“We’re happy you’re here,” Jacobs said. “It’s great for the kids – nothing better.”

The kids and their parents shopped in two big waves, circling back to the Customer Service Desk.

Police Chief Terry Timeus, who watched the whole process unfold, said he felt gratified that officers could provide direct help.

“This season can be really tough for kids if it’s bare under their Christmas tree while they see everyone else getting gifts,” said Police Chief Terry Timeus. “This is the Police Department’s way of reaching out to offer a helping hand to those in need. And that makes us feel good, too.”