Calumet City Cops Provide Gifts and Food to Area Families at Annual Santa Run

Larissa M. Tyler | As of Thursday, December 17, 2015

Santa Clause will once again make his appearance at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 1 in Calumet City in south suburban Illinois, where gifts and food will be delivered to Calumet City families.
Santa Clause will once again make his appearance at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 1 in Calumet City in south suburban Illinois, where gifts and food will be delivered to Calumet City families.

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 325,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges. And one of those lodges is bringing Santa Clause to southtown!

Indeed, the man in red and white will once again make his appearance at the FOP Lodge # 1 in Calumet City in south suburban Illinois, where gifts and food will be delivered to approximately two dozen Calumet City families.

The event, promoted as the Santa Run, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 9:30 a.m. and for many of the police officers volunteering for the occasion, it’s kind of a big deal.

Here’s why. With every other news headline these days highlighting police misconduct or police brutality, the Santa Run prominently allows this group of law enforcement officers a chance to proudly display their dedication to the community, help restore trust in the community and most importantly, give back to the community.

But according to Officer Jeff Newberg, spokesperson for FOP Lodge # 1, volunteering officers produce the Santa Run because of what is in their hearts and not because of what is in the headlines.

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The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide.

“We are not doing this because of what’s in the headlines about the police,” Newberg told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper. “This is our 29th anniversary and that’s a huge deal for us and what’s in the headlines is irrelevant. We feel that this is a necessary program so regardless to whether people feel the police are good are bad, this is something we feel the community can use and we have the resources and so we were not going to let anything discourage us from it. Our agenda is simply to help people in this town. That’s it.”

Newberg went on to say that the Calumet City Fire Department, Lions Club, Sams’s Club, Midwest Eye Center, Windy City Pizza have joined FOP Lodge # 1 in presenting the Santa Run.

“We used to spend over $1000 buying everything…last year was the first year we spent nothing thanks to everyone joining in,” Newberg explained.

Newberg describes the Santa run as nothing more than a heartwarming good time where Santa and his elves, accompanied by FOP Lodge # 1 members will gather at the corner of State Street and State Line Road in Calumet City on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 9:30 a.m.

The jolly group will depart at 10 a.m. to deliver gifts and food to local families in need. The gifts and food were made possible by FOP Lodge # 1 fundraising efforts throughout the year and generous community donations.

“The Santa Run program in Calumet City is a prime example of our mission as law enforcement officers – to serve others,” said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. “This event provides a brighter holiday for many families and allows them to get to know their neighbors and friends who serve and protect the public in Calumet City.”

The Fraternal Order of Police was founded in 1915. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information or call 708-774-0719.

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