Police Community Outreach
Chief Press started a charitable fund at the Key Biscayne Community Foundation a few years ago to raise money in order to purchase hundreds of toys for Liberty City children and hundreds of turkeys for Liberty City seniors at Christmas time. Chief Press and his officers take their day off to personally handout the toys to the hundreds of Liberty City children that line up to receive what is most likely their only gift. The following week, the Chief is back in Liberty City to handout more than 250 turkeys to seniors so they can have a holiday meal with their families.
“It is really difficult to describe the reason I focus so much of our assistance efforts towards the children and senior citizens of the ‘Pork and Beans’ community in Liberty City,” said Chief Press. “The toughest part of the toy giveaway is simply looking into the eyes and watching the expressions from the children. Many of them simply have that ‘1000 yard-stare’ that comes from seeing the world through a reality of fear and helplessness. Most of these children will never have an opportunity to break the poverty and welfare cycle that they are born into. It creates a total feeling of despair that toy giveaways can’t overcome. Cops have a strong presence in their lives, and most of those events are not positive. I figure if I can reach 5% of those kids, and place police officers in a different and more positive light, then I have accomplished something special.”
“The seniors have also experienced a lot difficulty in their lives, yet they seem morethankful than most people who have a lot more. They smile, cry, and show thanks in ways that could easily bring tears to an outsider’s eye. Each time I bring someone new from our Village to these events they speak of it being a life-altering event. Being able to provide some “holiday relief” to these children and seniors keeps me grounded, focused on what is really important in life, and, most importantly, it reminds me of how thankful I am for my own blessings.”
For more information or if you are interested in supporting Chief Press’ and the Key Biscayne Police Holiday Relief fund, please contact Melissa White at the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, 305-361-2770.