Santa made an early visit to 13 homes in Albany, Fulton, and Morrison, IL. On Sunday, morning, December 17, 2017, he was escorted by Whiteside County Sheriff’s Deputies Allie Deyo and Michael Leighton, as the trio departed the Law Enforcement Center shortly after 8:30 a.m. There was no snow to traverse, so the Department Hummer was packed with pretty presents.
In December 2016, Deputy Deyo took action on her desire to “provide a sense of relief for parents” struggling financially to create a joyful Christmas for their children. “I wanted kids to remember Christmas as a happy experience.” She brought her idea for a departmental Giving Tree to Sheriff Kelly Wilhelmi, Chief Deputy Andy Henson, and Lieutenant John Booker. “They said they would support me,” Deyo stated.
This year Deyo and Cady repeated the process, expanding the number of recipients. Twenty-six youth, ages one-to-17, would receive gifts and stockings during the morning. The staff in the Sheriff’s Office enthusiastically supported the endeavor. The women used monetary donations from their colleagues to buy stockings, which they filled “with candy and a fleece blanket.”
Deputy Leighton, Santa, and Deputy Deyo are shown prior to their joyful journey.
