RCPAL Helps Christmas Come Early for Some

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Logically speaking, Saturday, December 19, was seven days before Christmas.  For some families and kids in Rancho Cordova, however, it was Christmas itself.  “Combining the Holiday STAR program with the Christmas in Cordova event, we’re helping 175 local families,” said Police Chief Kate Adams.  The Rancho Cordova Police Activities League carries out the two events.  This is the tenth year for Christmas in Cordova, with the annual toy drive providing presents for families in need.

This fourth year of the Holiday STAR program saw 16 local schools participating, from preschool through 6^th grade.  The principal of each school chooses one student who is academically successful despite challenging circumstances.  Each of these students receives a backpack, new shoes, new clothing, usually a hundred dollar gift card for a shopping spree.  

Typically in the past, Christmas in Cordova was held in person at one of our local schools, and Holiday STAR was carried out at Walmart or Target.  “Because of the COVID-19 pandemic . . . both of those are being transitioned to drive-through events,” said Ashley Downton, Rancho Cordova communications officer.  This year, gifts for both programs were placed in each family’s vehicles as they drove through the parking lot at the future Rancho Cordova Youth Center on Investment Drive. 

Rancho Cordova PAL came into existence soon after the incorporation of the City of Rancho Cordova.  The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds relationships between RCPD and youth through a variety of programs, at no cost to the kids. Each year, the program serves more than 3,500 youth in our community.  “We do a lot of the sports activities throughout the year,” Adams said, “just anything where the officers can really get to know the kids, beyond the call for service, beyond just seeing the officer drive by.  They look to form relationships with families and children.”

Adams is an advocate for officers getting acquainted with the youth in their communities.  “Certainly we need to know the adults in the community as well, but oftentimes a child’s only experience with law enforcement is not positive,” Adams said.  “Even if they weren’t the victim of a crime, they may see their neighbor, or they see something – it’s not a positive experience.”  When police interact with children in helpful and friendly ways, families and children can see police as individuals.  “It goes both ways,” Adams said.  “. . . they hear each other’s story, and there’s usually an explanation . . . empathy is not even created, it just genuinely comes out.  It’s invaluable.”

David Sander, still mayor of Rancho Cordova at the time of the events, is a fan of both programs.  Christmas in Cordova, he said, was initially a community effort that dwindled away.  “When that transitioned over,” Sander said, “Dan Skoglund was pretty integral in that happening back then.  For a while it was actually called the Skoglund Family Christmas thing.  He was also donating to support it.”

Sander feels that both of these programs are representative of the spirit of Rancho Cordova.  “I think it’s a remnant of our military presence in our early days, and sort of space race atmosphere at Aerojet.  All those inspired people to do things that maybe they wouldn’t normally do . . . This is fun and I suppose it’s aiming high because we’re all trying to see (how many) more families we can get in there.  But also, it’s watching out for your neighbor.”