Police Launch Holiday Event To Help Priority Neighbourhoods

The Saint John Police Force is working with the five priority neighbourhoods to make the Christmas season a bit brighter for some local residents.

Holiday in a Box involves putting items such as toiletries, a hat, socks, gift cards and a bus pass in a shoebox and dropping it off at the police station.

Police Chief Robert Bruce said they want to engage positively with the community to build trust and he thought a great place to start would be with the priority neighbourhoods.

“There were a number of reasons I wanted to meet with them. [Find out] what their issues are, what we can do better proactively. This was one of the initiatives we talked about. Something we could do together proactively that could help the community,” Bruce said.

Bruce described the shoeboxes he put together with his wife.

“We did dollar store gift cards, Tim’s gift cards. We the trans (transit) pass, which was a big one for me that the community asked about and then regular everyday things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, tape, a notebook, candy. Just things like that,” Bruce said.

Unwrapped boxes can be dropped off at the police station until December 18th. From there, elves will wrap the boxes and distribute them to adults in the five priority neighbourhoods.

The Saint John Police Force is partnering with the Crescent Valley Resource. People United for the Lower South End, O.N.E. Change, the Carleton Community Centre, the Waterloo Village Neighbourhood Association and People United in the Lower South End or P.U.L.S.E. Inc. on this project.

The Saint John Police Force is teaming up with five priority neighbourhoods to provide a Holiday In A Box. Chief Robert Bruce says it’s intended to provide a little holiday cheer for less fortunate adults in the community. pic.twitter.com/clZgdag4P8

— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) November 16, 2021