Tulsa Police Officers Deliver Early Christmas Gifts To Area Families

Tara Vreeland, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Local police departments are giving the gift of technology to deserving kids and their families. It's all part of the eighth annual North Pole Computer Project.

Tulsa Police Officer JD West is on a Christmas mission. He's bringing holiday cheer in the form of a refurbished desktop computer to the Jeffrey family.

"It's a good feeling. You look at these applications and there are a lot of sad stories..... it's very humbling," West said.

The Jeffreys and 76 other families received a computer as part of the North Pole Computer Project.

"Police officers in general, we run across people who are not having the best day of their life. This is an opportunity for police officers to bring joy and happiness to a family," said Tulsa Police Captain Karen Ford.

Individuals and businesses donate computers they don't need any more. Local police departments refurbish them and then wrap them in pretty paper.

Eleven-year-old Amanda Jeffrey was nominated by a teacher at Cooper Elementary.

"We had to write a report and I had to write it all in hand. It was six paragraphs," Amanda said.

She says she'll use it for school work. And her college bound brother will too.

"I'll get to log into my OSU account, check my e-mails, make sure everything is good with college, probably try to find more financial aid some grants and things that can help us out," said Amanda's brother Ivan.

The Jeffreys say they've gone through hard times.

"I lost my husband eight years ago. We've moved place to place but it's been a better experience every time. Good kids. They are not in gangs, not in the streets," said LeAnne Jeffrey.

But they stay upbeat and optimistic about the new year. And they are thankful for the Christmas blessing.

"It feels pretty good. I like to see smile on their faces," Ivan said.

The North Pole computer Project is a non-profit group started by the late Tulsa Officer Glenn Deweese.