Officers help Santa deliver gifts to those in need

When a patrol car pulls up in front of your house, it's a natural instinct to wonder, "What did I do wrong?" Even though you never do anything wrong, panic ensues.

However, it was nothing but holly jolly when a Palatine police squad car, complete with uniformed officers and Santa, showed up at about 20 homes in town this December.

That's when the Palatine Police Department's Holiday Helpers program, in conjunction with the Palatine Fire Department, Wal-Mart and the Rotary Club of Palatine, decked the halls and lives of some under-resourced Palatine families with gifts.

"When they see the car pull up, they are very welcoming and want to take pictures with the officers," said Sandy Ziesak, a Palatine Police Department social worker. "They're greeted with smiling faces and it is a joyous occasion. It touches you; it really does."

In their fourth year, the Holiday Helpers faced some challenges when a grant from Wal-Mart fell through. However, there was no stopping these dedicated elves. They reduced the amount of families; still utilized a giving tree at Wal-Mart; got the Rotary onboard with some gift donations, and received a grand stocking stuffer in the amount of $1,800 from the Palatine Fire Department.

"Some of the firefighters pitched in by donating money in lieu of sending Christmas cards to one another," said Ziesak.

Each family receiving presents, which included clothing, grocery gift cards, and toys, had to be actively trying to improve their quality of life. Participation is based on referrals from social agencies, schools, or sometimes, from the officers themselves.

"Because we work the same area, we become familiar with people and notice when a family is in need," said Palatine Police Officer C.J. Hall, who recalled one case in particular. "There was a woman who was a victim of domestic violence who struggled for years. She was trying to work two jobs to get her kids gifts."

Last year, Marti Rotes was also struggling.

"It was heart-wrenching to tell my kids that things were tight and there would be no presents," said Rotes. "But I explained we still had the gift of each other and you can't buy that with money."

That's when Holiday Helpers came through for Rotes and her four children. The kids received clothes and toys and Rotes scored a grocery card that she said jazzed up her Christmas dinner. "It went from spaghetti with no meat sauce to a roast that was on sale."

Rotes also said she received one more priceless gift. "Knowing people care outside their own unit restored my faith in humanity and that's the present I got."

"This is my favorite part of the job," Hall said. "It's not always about chasing the bad guys, but helping on a one-on-one basis."