WEST VALLEY CITY — West Valley City police officers are organizing an effort to help local families in need during the holidays.
The project began 10 years ago, when officers out on calls saw families who were in need.
In their first year the group helped two families, and this year the Giving Tree effort is helping 50 families, which include about 165 children.
Officer Devin Novara of the West Valley City Police Department said they welcome help from anyone willing.
“On Wednesday, December 18th, at 8 a.m. right here at Valley Fair Mall, we’re going to have a wrapping day where we wrap all the presents,” Novara said. “Anybody is welcome to come on down and help wrap. The majority of the people are West Valley City employees, we have the housing department, we have code enforcement, a lot of cops come out, donate their time, but we take anybody and everybody who wants to. We have 165 bags full of toys and clothes that we need to wrap.”
Novara said all of the money for the gifts come from local citizens and businesses.
The Giving Trees are on display at Valley Fair Mall, 3601 South 2700 West, and anyone who would like to help can go to the trees and pick up a name. Donations need to be dropped off at the mall’s information desk by December 14, and police are also accepting cash donations to purchase the items for the families.
