Santa waives to children at the Centralia Police Department's annual Night Out With Santa event Sunday night.
Kim Beauchamp, center, serves hamburgers Sunday night at the Night Out With Santa event at the Lewis and Clark Hotel in Centralia.
Assistant Chief Stacy Denham of the Centralia Police Department talks to two boys Sunday night at the Night Out With Santa event at the Lewis and Clark Hotel in Centralia.
After meeting with Santa, children at the Centralia Police Department's annual Night Out With Santa event were treated to books and small toys before dinner.
After meeting with Santa, children at the Centralia Police Department's annual Night Out With Santa event were treated to books and small toys before dinner.
Children pick out new pajamas Sunday at the Centralia Police Department's Night Out With Santa event at the Lewis and Clark Hotel in Centralia.
Mom Tiffany helps 3-year-old Orion pick out new pajamas at the Centralia Police Department's Night Out With Santa at the Lewis and Clark Hotel in Centralia.
Santa talks with a boy Sunday night at the Centralia Police Department's Night Out With Santa event.
Emily, 10, and Jeffrey, 6, meet Santa Sunday at the Centralia Police Department's Night Out With Santa event.
Lewis County police officers put their regular duties aside Sunday night for jollier work — acting as elves at the Centralia Police Department’s annual Night Out With Santa.
“It’s a great rush to help out and help the officers. They do such great work,” said volunteer Doug Drake. “I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
The department has organized the event in one form or another since 1998, said officer Ruben Ramirez, who organizes the effort, though he added it has not been called “Night Out With Santa” for that entire time.
The department puts on Night Out With Santa rather than shop with a cop because it allows them to serve more families with fewer volunteers, he said. On Sunday, 90 families participated in the event.
“You could never get enough officers for all the kids,” he said. “This allows us to not turn kids down.”
School counselors nominate children, and their entire family is welcome at the event.
Each child in the participating families got to meet Santa, pick out a small toy or book when they first arrived, and took home a coat and pajamas. Families had dinner while watching a Christmas movie and chatting with an officer. Before going home, they were giving a bag of wrapped presents.
“If you watch that first group that comes and just look at their faces … that look doesn’t go away,” said Assistant Chief Stacy Denham of the Centralia Police Department, describing the look of excitement on kids’ faces when they showed up for the event.
Unlike Shop With a Cop events, officers do the shopping for Night Out With Santa ahead of time.
“When they get a present, they don’t know what’s in the boxes,” Ramirez said.
Families also receive a holiday meal and a gift certificate for another meal.
The event is funded through donations from area businesses, individuals and money given to the Centralia Police Officers’ Association.
Volunteers Bob and Kim Beauchamp provided the food for Sunday night’s dinner. While they live in South Thurston County, Kim Beauchamp said they feel a connection to the Centralia community and are grateful for the Centralia Police Department’s efforts.
“I just think it’s really special what the police do for the community,” Kim Beauchamp said.
