The Bethel Park Police Department is working to identify 50 BP families experiencing hardships this holiday season and working to find sponsors to support them.

Those who know of a family that is in need of a helping hand this holiday season can contact Officer Rigatti to put that family on the list. Other candidates that will be considered are the elderly and military families.

There are many ways to support this program aside from sponsoring a family or individual. Registries have been created for six of the families at Toys R Us, Kohls and Walmart.  You can go to the stores’ registries either in person or online and purchase items for the Adopt-A-Family Program.  These items can be shipped directly to Officer Rigatti or dropped off at the police station before Wednesday, Dec. 17 and must NOT be wrapped.

Gifts directed to entire families can be dropped off at the Community Center on Thursday, Dec. 18 between 9 and 11 AM. These gifts should be wrapped as they are going to a specific family and should be tagged with the name of the family it is to go to.

Gifts purchased from the registry are NOT to be wrapped as there are multiple families and these will be divided among them.

If you don’t have time to shop for any of the items on the posted registry and you still want to help out, gift cards and checks are gratefully accepted as well. Checks are to be made payable to “Bethel Park Police Pals” and can be sent to the Bethel Park Police Department.

The Police Pals are also hosting a Food Drive from December 1-17 and volunteers are needed at the Bethel Park Community Center on the 17th to help pack food and wrap presents.  Volunteers should come to the Community Center at 9 AM and bring wrapping paper and other wrapping supplies, such as scissors, tape and ribbons to prepare the gifts for the families.