The Sheriff with Mr. and Mrs. Claus
Project Santa started in 1979 after local deputies noticed while on patrol that many families in Whatcom County were less fortunate and didn’t have much.Rupert DeFries, a deputy at the time, approached the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office with an idea of “giving a Christmas” to families in need…
The Sheriff’s Office collected $500 from its members and employees to purchase toys, food and tre…es with ornaments. Managing to obtain a few Santa suits and with the use of their personal vehicles, the Sheriff’s Office and search and rescue volunteers assisted 10 families in the first year.
By 2008, Project Santa was bringing Christmas to 300 families and over 700 children. But sadly, the volunteer pool was dwindling and a change had to be made so in 2009 the program reorganized, with a handful of new volunteers, and is now offered to children in county schools — in the same one day format as the Bellingham Police Department offers Shop with a Cop for the Bellingham City District. Children enrolled in county schools can contact the Community Resource Person at their school for further details about this year’s participation.
