Abilene Operation Blue Santa, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is a donation based operation. Funds raised for the operation allow a select number of Abilene school-age children who are identified as either in need or at-risk to be paired with an Abilene police officer for a day of Christmas shopping at Abilene’s northside Wal-Mart location. The officers assist the children in selecting Christmas gifts, food, toiletries and other household items for their families.

Nominations for children in kindergarten through third grade are made in October and November each year by school teachers, counselors, school resource officers and patrol officers. Neither the children being nominated, nor their parents, know they are in line to be part of the operation.

A selection committee, made up of undercover police officers who don’t get to shop (officers must be in full uniform to shop with the children), meet and review all nominations received. After the selections are made by the committee, officers show up at the different schools, pull them out of class and inform them that a few days later they’ll be shopping for themselves and their families as part of Operation Blue Santa.

Building that relationship between the students and the police officers has been the underlying goal of the entire project. But it’s not just about building bonds; it’s showing the students they’re cared for, even if it’s not shown at home.