HANCOCK COUNTY — Several county families got a Christmas surprise sure to warm their souls this holiday season thanks to a non-profit organization whose mission is inspired by police officers’ good works.
Through Blue Angel Connect’s “Holiday Hope” program, designated families were able to drive to the Buck Creek Township Fire Department on Saturday, Dec. 19, thinking they were picking up a few Christmas gifts for their children. In reality, Blue Angel Connect members, including Santa Claus, gave out presents for children and parents; a warm lunch; and a holiday meal complete with all the fixings, either a turkey or a ham, to take home for Christmas Day.
Depending on families’ sizes, the organization was able to spend $500 to $1,000 on each family.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryThe organization and its Holiday Hope program started in 2016, when the 11-year-old daughter of Brent Burris, a detective from the Shirley Police Department, decided she wanted to do something to change the perception of police officers.
The family created the non-profit to highlight officers’ role in the community.
While Burris retired this year after 19 years in law enforcement, he, his wife Kim and their daughter Nicole, now a student at Mt. Vernon High School, along with several others, are continuing the mission of Blue Angel Connect with the idea of growing its mission.
The group, with support from the Hancock County Community Foundation and several corporate sponsors, was able to supply holiday needs for nine families, including the adults.
“That’s what makes us a little different then a lot of charities at Christmastime, because we do buy things for the adults as well,” Burris said.
The mission of Blue Angel Connect is to work with law enforcement agencies and other county charitable organizations to find families in need and then help them during their most vulnerable times of the year, like Christmas.
Due to COVID-19, the group couldn’t just show up with all the gifts unannounced and surprise families with Santa Claus as they’ve done in years past. On Saturday, they set up the distribution of the goodies at the Buck Creek Fire Station at Indianapolis Regional Airport with a drive-through format.
“We’re hoping next year maybe we can team up with one of the local law enforcement agencies and surprise families like we have in the past,” Burris said.
One of the group’s volunteers, Jeffrey Boxberger, has been on the organization’s board for the past two years. He graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 2017. He’s studying public safety management at IUPUI and will graduate in May. Boxberger hopes to join the McCordsville Police Department in 2021.
Boxberger, who was a Boy Scout and earned an Eagle Scout badge, joined the non-profit because he liked the idea of doing things for others in the community. He also likes working with officials from law enforcement and showing them in a positive light.
“We’re a small organization trying to get our name out there,” Boxberger said.
Organizers are trying to recruit a more diverse board so they can do more community projects throughout the year and not just the Holiday Hope program at Christmas.
Sometimes, officers will be called to situations where they discover families are facing difficulties. The organization would like to be able to help those families year-round, if it can continue to grow.
The seven-person board consists of Kim Burris, president; Nicole Burris, co-president; Brent Burris, vice president; Jeffrey Boxberger, secretary; and Marty Black, LeaEtta Hyer and Naomi Parfait.
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More information about Blue Angel Connect is available on the organization’s website, www.blueangelconnect.org.
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