WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Readers reported seeing caravans of law enforcement vehicles led by fire engines with their emergency lights activated heading up Meridian Street over the weekend of December 10th and 11th. They were seen eventually pulling into the Walmart parking lot. This was the result of this year’s local annual Holiday Shop with Your Cop” and “Project Santa Claus” events.
Personnel from Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol along with Ferndale, Lynden, Everson, Bellingham, Blaine and Lummi and Nooksack Tribal Police Departments and local fire departments greeted over 175 kids from across Whatcom County and treated them to a shopping spree accompanied by their own uniformed personal shoppers.
Each year so many of the Walmart associates volunteer their time to make this a very special event for the kids. All the gifts are wrapped by these special Walmart Elves! Bellingham Police Department
Presents were bought, food served and there were photos opportunities with Santa.
Click for more informationTransportation for families participating in Project Santa Claus was provided by Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA).
Project Santa Clause began in 1979 as a project of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and now includes other law enforcement agencies and serves children from county school districts outside of Bellingham. Holiday Shop with a Cop has also been going on for years and serves childing within Bellingham Public Schools.
Both events are funded by private contributions from individuals, organizations and businesses. All uniformed personnel are volunteering their time as well.