For more than two decades, Liberty police officers have made it a point to trade their usual headwear for Santa hats each Christmas, spreading a little holiday cheer to elderly and homebound residents through the department’s Silver Santa project.
This year was no different, as 25 Liberty residents received large bins filled with non-perishable food items and comforting essentials like pillows, blankets, socks and other thoughtful items meant to brighten their holiday season.
For many recipients, the deliveries meant more than just supplies — they were a reminder that someone was thinking about them.
Most of those chosen were identified through the Liberty Police Department’s Are You Okay? Program, an initiative started in 2022 to make sure elderly residents have someone checking in on them regularly. In other cases, recipients were brought to the attention of organizers by officers themselves, who often see firsthand where help is needed most.
This year, the department opened the project up to the community rather than relying solely on donations from the City of Liberty and the police department. That decision turned out to be a blessing.
According to Chief Rick Ash and his administrative assistant Donna Smith, both of whom were instrumental in this year’s event, the response from the community was overwhelming, and the bins delivered this Christmas were packed full.
For the officers who take part, the Silver Santa project is a reminder that policing in a small community is about more than calls for service. It’s about knowing your neighbors, noticing when someone needs help and showing up — especially during the holidays.