Osky police, Wal-Mart join forces for the kids

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December 7, 2009

By DUANE NOLLEN

OSKALOOSA — The Oskaloosa Police Department and Wal-Mart are teaming up to give needy kids in the area a merry Christmas.

There is a Christmas tree standing at Wal-Mart with construction paper stockings that contains the name of a needy local child. A shopper can stop at the tree, pick up a stocking and buy a present for the child.

Police officers receive the names of needy kids from the Southern Iowa Economic Development Association to put on the tree.

Oskaloosa Police Lt. Craig Alexander said there are 164 kids currently in the program. “We’ve had 200 some years,” he added.

Alexander said that sometimes not all the stockings get taken, so police officers make sure all kids get a Christmas present.

To further the cause, Alexander accepted a $1,000 check from Wal-Mart store manager Dan McKinney Friday to help buy presents for the kids.

“We’re happy we can help,” McKinney said.

McKinney says there’s more of a need for charity this year.

“Our donation requests have gone way up,” he said.

“The names have been going really quick,” Alexander said. Although economic times are tough, “people are still taking the stockings and buying gifts,” he added.

Alexander said that gifts people purchase through the stockings are due at Wal-Mart on Dec. 20, and police officers will distribute the gifts on Dec. 22 and 23.

Herald Editor Duane Nollen can be reached by email at oskynews@oskyherald.com