Lacking donations, Dover police won't be able to help as many kids in need this Christmas

Editor's note: Within an hour of this story's publication Monday morning, the Del-One Federal Credit Union pledged a $500 donation to this program, according to the Dover Police Department. Donations topped $1,000 by mid-afternoon. Scroll to the bottom of this story to find out how you can help.

The holidays are a tight time of year, financially, for many families. This year, it is looking tight for the Dover Police Department, too.

The agency is significantly behind on donations for its annual Holiday Heroes program, which sponsors families and children in need to ensure as many kids as possible have something to celebrate this holiday season.

[Find details on how you can help at the bottom of this story.]

One family with six children is without their mother after a car crash claimed her life earlier this year.

Another pair of children lost their matriarch, too, early in the school year.

And some are just in need of a little happiness, lacking clean clothes or basic necessities, and taking on responsibilities at home that no child should have to endure. 

That's why Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman is looking to the community for help – because the holidays should be celebrated by all.

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"These are children who, for the most part, are going through situations that are completely out of their control," Hoffman said. "Quite honestly, every child deserves to have something for Christmas or have something to believe in. ... They deserve some hope."

Families and children chosen for the Holiday Heroes program are within the Capital School District in Dover and nominated by teachers, faculty and counselors at area schools, Hoffman said. 

Typically, the department can sponsor anywhere from 40 to 60 kids, but with about $5,000 in the donation bank, Hoffman said the agency can only guarantee help to about 22 kids.

The stack of nominations on his desk has far more names than that.

Ideally, the department would like to raise about $2,000 this week, though it has raised as much as $10,000 in years past. Within an hour of this story's publication on Delaware Online Monday, Del-One Federal Credit Union pledged a $500 donation to the Holiday Heroes program. Donations continued to roll in, topping $1,000 by mid-afternoon.

Some rule changes have made fundraising more difficult this year, Hoffman said, leaving cash donations to the police department and donated Target gift cards the two main ways people can contribute.

The department also received a $1,000 grant from Target, a six-year partner.

Officers plan to do their shopping in about a week, so the department is in its final push to rack up donations and help as many children as possible.

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"It helps the community see police in a different light," Hoffman said, noting that many of the families in need live in high-crime neighborhoods where police may be seen as more of a threat than an asset. 

"Not only does it give those children hope, but it helps change that opinion of our agency, too," he said. "It helps build bridges."

Here's how you can help

• Make a cash donation to the Dover Police Department at 400 South Queen Street.
• Purchase a Target gift card and either email it to Mark Hoffman at mark.hoffman@cj.state.de.us or drop it off at the police department.
• Contact Mark Hoffman directly at (302) 736-7130.

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Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.