Delivering Holiday Happiness

Published on January 02, 2024

Volunteers from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office delivered a little holiday happiness to unhoused people on the streets of Jackson County.

The 29 volunteers helped assemble and deliver 130 gift packages to people at camps and gathering spots as part of the Sheriff’s Office Gift Train Program. Items were donated by Sheriff’s Office members, their families, the Greater Kanas City Public Safety Credit Union and the Jackson County Deputy Sheriffs Association.

The well-stocked individual gift packages were delivered in reusable bags containing food items, clothing, personal hygiene and first aid items, hand and feet warmers and emergency blankets. The Jackson County Detention Center also provided 72 NARCAN kits in reusable bags, each containing two doses of NARCAN, a CPR micro-shield, instructions for use and support information.

The gifts were delivered over three evenings by uniformed law enforcement and detention center volunteers in Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles and a detention transport van. During the evening deliveries, members visited locations in Grandview, Independence and Kansas City.

A sincere appreciation to Sgt. Danny Barnes for coordinating the event. Thanks to the Sheriff & Detention Center associates, volunteers, families and organizations that made this program happen.