Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: Nov 20, 2007

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Operation Santa Kick-off

Shreveport Police and Fire Department, and the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office will kick off Operation Santa Claus next Monday, Nov. 26, at 2 p.m.

This is the 23rd year for Operation Santa Claus, which teams up with Gap Broadcasting to help fill Christmas wish lists for children in Shreveport-Bossier.

The program started in 1984 and helps several hundred children each year have a happy Christmas.

Here=s how the program works:

* Police, sheriff=s deputies and firefighters in Shreveport and Bossier Parish submit names of children who deserve the assistance of Operation Santa Claus. The children tell the officers what toys they would like for Christmas, and Operation Santa goes to work.

* Through the airways of Shreveport B and now the Internet B Clear Channel Communications and volunteers with Operation Santa Claus work to find sponsors who will donate toys or money to help fill the children=s Christmas lists.

* Once toys are donated, the public safety employees who nominated the children for the program then get to play Santa, delivering the wrapped goodies in time for Christmas.

If you would like to participate in this heart-warming holiday endeavor, e-mail kacee.hargrave@ci.shreveport.la.us or call Operation Santa Claus directly, at 687-GIFT (after Dec. 1).

 Information can be left with crimestoppers at 673-7373 or by logging onto the crimestoppers website at www.crimestoppersshreveportcaddo.com.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews