Dayton police grant more than 100 wishes from children in need

Sgt. Danielle Cash with the Dayton Police Department places a card on the Angel Christmas Tree this week. STAFF PHOTO PARKER PERRY

Sgt. Danielle Cash with the Dayton Police Department places a card on the Angel Christmas Tree this week. STAFF PHOTO PARKER PERRY

More than 40 Dayton children who otherwise might not have received a gift this Christmas will now thanks to the Dayton Police Department.

Dayton officers bought and donated three gifts each for 44 children from 16 families for its Angel Tree program. It’s the eighth year the department has put on the program, but this year was extra-special, Sgt. Danielle Cash said.

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“This year has been particularly trying for us emotionally and mentally as a department. This year, everyone really leaped into taking this on. We want to have a positive end to a particularly hard year,” Cash said.

Cash said the Dayton Police Department received the families’ information through nominations from community partners. They then asked the child for three wishes the officers could get for them.

“The most rewarding part is being able to help see the smiles on their faces and tears of joys on the parents’ faces who were concern about not being able to provide for Christmas,” Cash said. “When you help make a Christmas wish, it just melts your heart.”

More than 100 wishes from kids were granted by Dayton police.

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Along with the gifts, which will be handed out before Christmas to each family, the Fraternal Order of Police also collects and provides coats for each child.

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