Officers Spend Day Brightening Up The Holidays
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Miami-Dade Police officers spent the day brightening up the holidays for some very special people. They are families who need something to smile about for any number of reasons.
With the help of honor guard officers, children at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center got to meet a special visitor - Santa Claus- who stopped by with a bag full of gifts.
"This is so nice for the kids. This is wonderful to see them feel better and special. It's a good thing," said Linda Joseph, the mother of one of the cancer patients.
The honor guard officers spread holiday cheer among children of all ages. Even teenagers were not too old to spend time with Santa.
"I really appreciate it. I really love seeing the joy in the children," said cancer patient Carlos Nunez.
Police were also busy in South Miami-Dade, stopping by the home of Letoiya Edwards and dropping off a $100 gift card.
"This is our first year not being able to provide gifts for our children every year we did it this year was a problem," said Edwards.
Santa's helpers in uniforms also spotted Tina Welch walking with her granddaughter and wondered if she could use a $100 dollar gift card. Her response was yes, followed by big hugs for the officers.
"I mean I want to cry I never got anything I never have been blessed like this," said Welch.
On Tuesday, Coral Gables Police handed out gift cards to drivers near Red Road and Country Club Prado. Chief Ed Hudak dressed up as Santa spreading holiday cheer.
"This is from the police department and someone who lives in Coral Gables and wants us to spread holiday cheer to everyone we meet," said Hudak.
On Miami Beach, police pulled over drivers not to give them tickets. Instead, they handed out $25 American Express gift certificates to make Christmas a little more special.