Christmas party canceled in favor of charity
Posted: December 26, 2015 - 4:00am

NORTH BEND, Ore. (AP) — Five families in North Bend are opening Christmas presents from the North Bend Police Department after the union decided to cancel its annual Christmas party and use the funds for charity instead.

The Oregonian reports (http://goo.gl/47CjWv ) that the North Bend Police Officers Association agreed to adopt a family instead of hosting its own holiday party.

Officers in police vehicles with lights on and sirens blaring went to deliver wrapped gifts to five families on Christmas Eve.

Union President Officer Patrick Kinney estimates they delivered about $2,500 worth of gifts to families. The funds came from the union, officers' personal donations and businesses.

North Bend Chief Robert F. Kappelman says he was moved by the act of kindness and wrote commendation letters to every member in the union.