In the holiday spirit of giving, Latino and African American officers in Hyattsville, Maryland, gave families in need Christmas baskets filled with food and other donations.
Officers handed out baskets at La Chiquita Restaurant located at 1500 University Blvd East Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers also delivered baskets to families without transportation.
Since 2000, the Hispanic National Law Enforcement Association has prepared food baskets for predominantly Latino communities in an effort to bridge the gap between their organization, community members and Latino officers.
Over the event's 17 years, donations have expanded from 20 baskets to 1,500. The number of volunteers, community members and police officers involved has also grown.
The eight-hour event was hosted in collaboration with the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association's National Capitol Region chapter, United Black Police Officers’ Association and the Association of Police Attaché’s Latin America.
For more information about the donation drive and how you can help, contact HAPCOA president Joe Perez at 240-244-9189.
