Most people don’t understand the fun and joy of getting involved and being able to give to the community. 

I have been volunteering for about six years with a group called “Police Lights Of Christmas” started in 2016 by individuals at Q90 FM, a local Christian radio station.

The goal of this program is to raise money to buy gift cards and other care items to give to police officers to hand out if they run into people in need. This also helps the officers connect with the members of their community and lift some of the hard or negative feelings there may be surrounding them.

In 2022, we worked alongside 55 police departments from all over Wisconsin doing things such as restaurant fundraising nights, food truck rallies and our biggest fundraiser “Ride With the Lights.”

Last year with these events, we raised $185,000 in gift cards and packed 1000 care backpacks.

When I go to these events and see everyone so eager to help the program and those in need, it’s a great feeling. I love being able to be involved with this program because it touches the lives and hearts of the officers, the people we get to help, the volunteers and the donors. 

I’m excited to attend the final event of the season, the packing event at Lambeau Field later this month, to see how many people we will be able to help this year with the funds we raised, and the bags we packed. 

Because of this, I enjoy doing our required service hours for school every year, and I think others would too if they found an organization they are passionate about and love working with.