Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says from November 25^th through December 21^st 2016, the Page County Sheriff’s Office is taking requests for Operation Blessing.  With Shenandoah, Essex, and Clarinda having similar programs for children in those towns, the Page County Sheriff’s Office will be geared toward children in the other communities, as well as rural areas, of the county.

The requests must come from a parent or guardian of the child and can be called into the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193, or reported in person at the Page County Sheriff’s Office located at 323 N 15^th Street in Clarinda. Again requests will be taken from Friday November 25, 2016, through Wednesday December 21, 2015, and each child will be given a first and second choice.

Operation Blessing was started in the mid 1980s by the Page County Reserve Deputies to ensure that every child in Page County has the opportunity to receive a gift at Christmas. It has continued every year since for almost 30 years. This year the Sheriff’s Office and Reserve program will continue this tradition of ensuring that children in Page County receive a gift for Christmas.

Anyone wishing to donate to the Page County Sheriff’s Office Operation Blessing program can either stop by the Page County Sheriff’s Office or mail the donation to the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 323 North 15th Clarinda, Iowa, 51632. The Sheriff’s Office will again this year be delivering the gifts to the children.  That will take place on December 21st, 22nd, & or 23^rd.   The date depends on staffing, call load, and of course, the weather.

Sheriff Palmer say he wants to “Thank everyone for their donations and support of the program, for without this the program would not be able to continue.” He also  thanked his staff at the Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in everything they do with the program, and he wished everyone “A joy filled Holiday season.”