As much as it sucks to admit, this really is not the “most wonderful time of the year” for a lot of those in law enforcement. They unfortunately don’t get to enjoy the good stuff because their hours are pretty much the same – which means they’re missing more family functions than ever. Plus, when their “clients'” families get together, it’s sometimes not so pretty – and they have to be there to clean up the mess.
Needless to say, it’s hard to keep the Christmas spirit around when you’re faced with things like that.
There are so many ways to make your husband’s Christmas awesome – but what about the rest of his department? Even if he’s typically working solo in his own cruiser, the other officers who make up his support system might need a little extra cheer, too – and there are some simple ways to make that happen.
How To Bring Christmas Cheer To Your Husband’s Department
Send an ornament or other small gift.
Bringing the Christmas spirit to your local police department doesn’t have to involve anything big or expensive (though it can if you want.)
Some gift ideas that are easily replicate-able for a large group (some are cheaper than others, it just depends on what you’re aiming for!)
- Mason jar cocktails (they wouldn’t be popular here in Utah necessarily, but they’re super cute!)
- Thin blue line ornaments
- Hand warmers
- Thin blue line treats (like Oreos or cake balls)
- Donut bookmarks (just stick a paperclip in the donut before baking :))
You could also put together a full-on care package type thing for each officer – check out these ideas from Proud Police Wife and Mommy Octopus for inspiration and free printables.
Bring treats.
If you’re not feeling very crafty (or money or time are an issue), a bag of candy, a plate of store-bought cookies, or even a case of soda is bound to go a long way. Heck, even a few dozen donuts would surely be wolfed down (and they’re a classic!)
You can easily attach a card or note (or these free printable gift tags) to them to show your appreciation for their support of your husband, and for being police officers in general.
Help out a family or two in the department.
Is there a family in your department who could use a little extra cheer for some reason or another? Maybe they’re coping with an injury, sickness, or issue with children. You might consider bringing them a special gift, or even leaving a gift card to help cover groceries/etc for their holidays.
Depending on what you bring, it could be fun to “ding-dong-ditch” the present. Just don’t do that with anything edible, because it might seem kind of sketchy. But being anonymous makes the gift-giving extra fun.
Send a card/letter.
There’s something so special about a handwritten note of appreciation – whether it’s one of your family Christmas cards for a general bulletin board or a few individual ones to other officers who’ve had an impact this year, it’ll go a long way.
If you send a few individual ones, you might consider including a gift card – even a $5 Starbucks gift card or something, just enough to get a drink. Or a fast food one, because – let’s be real, police officers eat a lot of fast food.
Donate to a law enforcement-related nonprofit.
There are so many nonprofits out there that exist solely to improve the lives of law enforcement officers, from helping after being involved in a shooting, providing vests to officers who can’t afford it, or even donating stab/bulletproof vests for K9s.
Here are just a few ideas – but there are most definitely more out there!
- The Officer Down Memorial Page
- C.O.P.S.
- Spirit of Blue Foundation
- Hope4Blue
- Kevlar for K9s
- National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
- The Armor of God Project
- Wives of Armor
Pray for them.
This is awesome, because it’s 100% free and super effective.
Things you can pray for:
- Their safety.
- Discernment in tricky situations.
- Encouragement if they’re feeling down.
- The ability to see the difference they make.
Remember, though, that God often answers prayers through other people – so if you feel compelled to do something for your husband’s department after praying, don’t hesitate to do so.
The holidays are so hard on our law enforcement officers, and as a police wife, you’re in a unique position to understand what they need most – and be able to deliver on it. So in this season of giving, consider spreading the Christmas spirit to those who most directly impact your family’s lives.
What are you doing to help your local police department this year? If you have ideas, feel free to share in the comments!
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