Police Providing Presents Brings Holiday Cheer to Garrett County Children
The holiday season is a time for giving, and law enforcement agencies throughout Garrett County are once again coming together to make the holidays a little brighter for local children through the annual Police Providing Presents event.
GARRETT COUNTY, MD — The holiday season is a time for giving, and law enforcement agencies throughout Garrett County are once again coming together to make the holidays a little brighter for local children through the annual Police Providing Presents event.
Volunteers from Garrett County law enforcement agencies, along with the Garrett County Department of Social Services, have partnered together for this special program benefiting local children.
Although similar programs across the country may be called different names, the meaning behind the event remains the same. Selected Garrett County children are given the opportunity to be paired with members of the Maryland State Police, Garrett County Sheriff’s Office, Oakland City Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police and the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The children and officers spend the day together as partners, creating positive experiences and lasting memories.
A Special Day of Giving
One of the highlights of the event is a special shopping trip. Children have the opportunity to go shopping with a police officer and select presents for themselves as well as members of their families.
Following the shopping experience, the children will attend a luncheon, enjoy games and other activities, and have their presents wrapped by volunteers.
The 2026 Police Providing Presents event is scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2026.
Supporting Local Children
The Police Providing Presents program serves children in Garrett County and is made possible through donations from members of the community.
Organizers are asking individuals, businesses and organizations who would like to support the program to consider making a donation. Contributions help provide selected children with the opportunity to enjoy a special holiday experience and make their holidays a little brighter.
Donations can be dropped off in person or mailed to:
Garrett County Department of Social Services
Attention: Finance Office 12578 Garrett Highway
Oakland, Maryland 21550
The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
All checks and money orders should be made payable to GCDSS and should include “Police Providing Presents” in the comments.
For questions about the program, contact F/Sgt. B. Williams with the Maryland State Police – McHenry Barrack at 301-387-1101.
More Than Just Presents
While the program provides children with gifts during the holiday season, Police Providing Presents is about much more than presents.
It gives children an opportunity to spend time with members of their local law enforcement community in a positive and welcoming environment. It also allows officers and volunteers to build meaningful relationships with the families and children they serve.
A day filled with shopping, games, food, laughter and gift-giving can create memories that children carry with them for years to come.
The program is a wonderful example of what can happen when a community comes together to support its children. Through the generosity of local residents, businesses, organizations, officers and volunteers, Garrett County children can experience the excitement of the holiday season and know that their community cares about them.
Every donation, no matter the size, can help make a child’s holiday a little brighter.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Police Providing Presents program and help make this special event possible.
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