Police officers spend much of their career dealing with the negative society throws at them. So when something positive comes along, they embrace it.
That’s exactly what the officers of the Hermiston Police Department do each year with its Christmas Express program, a regular Hermiston tradition now in its 56th year. Local organizations and community members join the police to provide toys and food to less fortunate families in Hermiston.
“Well over 90% of what a police officer deals with every day is negative, in the sense people don’t call us when something good is happening,” Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston said. “Throughout your career, you’re constantly looking for little things to either make the day or justify your existence.”
Community Partnerships
The program, which costs approximately $22,000 annually to operate, relies heavily on community support. Local service organizations like Rotary contribute between $8,000 to $12,000 annually, while individual community members quietly make substantial donations.
“I’m born and raised here in Hermiston, and it wasn’t until I started this program that I realized how generous our local farmers are,” Edmiston said. “There’s not a farmer I can’t call in a bind and say, ‘I need this, can you help me out?’”
The community’s generosity comes in many forms. Local farmers provide fresh produce, including potatoes and onions. Some donors prefer to remain anonymous, like 1 family that contributes $4,000 each year to help fund the program.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges, particularly in securing bulk food orders, but the community adapted. When Walmart changed its bulk ordering policies, other local businesses stepped up.
“Harvest Foods over in Umatilla has stepped up and helped us out by just identifying, ‘We can get you 500 turkeys,’” Edmiston said. “I don’t necessarily like the cost, but it is what it is.”
School Spirit
1 of the program’s key partnerships is with the Hermiston School District, whose students conduct annual food drives to help stock the holiday food boxes and whose counselors help identify families who could use a boost.
“We work with the schools on identifying the people and then each individual school may or may not hold a canned food contest,” Edmiston said. “Whatever the top class that they identify, we do gift cards, and we do $125 for elementary schools and then $150 for the top class from the 2 middle schools and then the high school.”
The friendly competition between classes has helped forge a strong bond between the police department and the school district, making the partnership a cornerstone of the program’s success.
“The Hermiston School District is delighted to once again partner with the Hermiston Police Department for this annual canned food drive,” Maryanna Hardin, the school district’s communications officer, said. “This partnership has been a longstanding tradition, 1 that the Hermiston School District is proud to support year after year.”
Hardin said Christmas Express embodies the spirit of the season — bringing the community together to support families in need.
“We’re excited to see the enthusiastic participation from each of our schools,” she said. “We look forward to witnessing the unity and generosity of our students, staff, and families as they join together in the spirit of giving.”
Feeding Families
That generosity helps provide approximately 100 pounds of food to each family, including a turkey, along with presents for children up to age 11. Each box is carefully assembled to provide both holiday meals and everyday staples.
The success of these food drives has occasionally created a welcome challenge — an abundance of donations. The department has used this overflow to help local nursing homes and other organizations that serve those in need.
“We always have an overabundance of canned foods because the school kids do a great job,” Edmiston said.
“We have in the past made deliveries to several different nursing homes here in the area, like ‘Can you guys use some food?’”
The program identifies families through various channels, with the school district being the primary source. Social services, chaplains, churches, and officers also help identify families in need. The department makes a special effort to reach elderly residents who might be hesitant to ask for assistance.
A City-Wide Effort
What started as a police department initiative has evolved into a true city-wide endeavor, with city employees gathering at EOTEC to pack food boxes and wrap presents during what has become an annual Christmas party.
“We’ve got the system really streamlined,” Edmiston said. “The first year we did that as the city we were in Thompson Hall actually, and built 500 food boxes in like 47 minutes. I mean, it was crazy. And so we have intentionally slowed that down to make sure that we’re getting the boxes filled appropriately.”
The program began in 1969 as a partnership between then-Police Chief Bob Shannon and local insurance agent Dick Hodge, who noticed an overabundance of presents at the local Sears store. From those humble beginnings helping families in a town of 4,000, the program has grown to serve hundreds of families in what is now 1 of Eastern Oregon’s largest cities.
Making a Difference
While the program touches hundreds of families each year, sometimes individual stories stand out.
Edmiston recalled a particularly moving story from several years ago involving a family that lost their home to fire. Beyond the standard food and presents, the department was able to provide additional support through gift cards and handmade quilts from Desert Sage Manor residents.
“I got a thank-you card at the station, totally not expecting it, not even thinking about Christmas,” he said. “And in that card, they had found a new place to live. What a huge win that was for the family through a horrible time.”
It’s these moments of impact that make the program special for the officers involved. While police work often involves dealing with society’s challenges, the Christmas Express program provides an opportunity for officers to make a positive difference in their community during the holiday season.
“We’re not great at highlighting (these things), but we don’t highlight because we’re not looking for the spotlight,” Edmiston said. “It’s just the right thing to do.”