“It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding.” Kahlil Gibran
In December 2016, Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Allie 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.
Visitors to the County Law Enforcement Center did not see the tree, decorated with lights, balls, and tags with children’s names. “It was back in our [Sheriff’s Department] office.” Deyo had approached the YWCA to supply names of boys and girls, in grades kindergarten through 12th, who would be recipients of “a little help. The children were from Sterling, and Rock Falls, IL.”
She and Kim Cady, who is in charge of Records, completed “the tags with a child’s name, gender, age, and Christmas list of wishes.” The women used monetary donations from their colleagues to buy stockings, which they filled “with candy and a fleece blanket. We are also willing to wrap the presents.”
The most gratifying part of this outreach was delivering gifts to families. Deputy Deyo said, “Last year a big group of people delivered the gifts–YWCA staff, Deputies, and Sheriff’s Office staff. Parents thanked me. Some told me that ours were the only gifts their children would be getting. Most people [in the Sheriff’s Office] go beyond the [suggested] $30 limit for presents. Some have shopped with their own children, letting them help choose gifts” for the Giving Tree recipients.
“This year, I reached out to the School Superintendents and got the teachers and staff of Fulton, and Morrison, IL, schools to give me names of [less fortunate] K-12 kids. If a family had a baby [or preschool child], its name was included on the list. We have between 25 and 30 names this year, more than last year.”
“All the tags were gone within the week!” As of Tuesday, December 12, “there are quite a few gifts under” the Sheriff’s Office Giving Tree.
In addition, a message on the tree states, “Donations are appreciated for food and other necessities for families. Merry Christmas.”
Deputy Allie Deyo, left, Kim Cady, right, a Deputy, and Santa will deliver Christmas presents and stockings in the department’s Hummer. On Sunday, morning, December 17, just imagine the children’s faces when that vehicle arrives!
