MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) A police department in the Poconos can officially make more Christmas dreams come true.
Officer Chris Shelly with Stroud Area Regional Police was presented a check Wednesday night for $5,000.
Thanks to community voting during a national contest, he won the “Why We Serve” grant, which is sponsored by “aftermath” — a crime scene clean-up company.
The money allows Shelly to buy more Christmas gifts for less-fortunate kids that he and other officers come in contact with throughout the year.
Every year, they select families to help through the “Olsen Christmas wish”.
“I know we went up against some really big police departments, and yet we took home the gold. So, that just shows you how community involved this is and how big this event actually is.”
Two local businesses matched the grant — bringing the grand total to $15,000
The “Olsen Christmas Wish” gets bigger and helps more families, every year.
