Plum Grove Police Department on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, presented its inaugural Silver Santa program, an initiative created to bring joy and support to seniors in the community.
Plum Grove Police Chief Frank Longoria says he founded a Silver Santa program 12 years ago during his service with the Liberty Police Department, where it continues to thrive to this day.
Chief Longoria was inspired to create Silver Santa by a very personal experience. In the months before his mother’s death in 2012, she was in the geriatric area of a hospital. There he realized that many elderly patients did not have visitors, family or friends to offer them comfort or company.
“It broke my heart to see how forgotten they were,” Chief Longoria shared. “Our seniors, who were once vibrant and vital members of society, deserve much better.”
This idea became a reality and served as inspiration for the Silver Santa program, which aims to deliver gifts and brighten Christmas to older residents, especially those who are alone during Christmas.
“As I tell younger police officers, when they talk about us older ones, ‘What you are now, I once was, and what I am now, you will be.’ Supporting our elders is a matter of respect and gratitude. It is a debt we owe them,” Longoria said.
Chief Longoria hopes the program in Plum Grove will grow to match the success it has had in Liberty, bringing joy to seniors who need it most.
“If we can brighten the lives of some of our senior citizens, we have made a difference,” he said.
Plum Grove Police Department invites the community to support the Silver Santa program for years to come.
“Together, we can ensure our seniors feel appreciated and valued,” Longoria said.
For more information or to get involved, contact Plum Grove Police Department at 832-793-5215.