VPD Partners with Local Organizations to Surprise Local Family with Christmas Donations
Thursday, December 17th, 2020
On Tuesday, December 15, the Valdosta Police Department, in partnership with the Citizens Against Violence Venture Club and Patriot Tattooer, surprised a local Valdosta family in need with a Christmas donation of food and gifts. The organizations met at the family’s residence to hand-deliver the donations they collected and meet Kinshasa Martin and her four young children in person.
Every year the Detectives at the Police Station donate to a family in need but decided to partner with a few local organizations to donation extra special this year. The family selected have been long time members of the Citizens Against Violence Venture Club and was chosen by CEO and Founder, Pastor J.D Martin and his wife, Ethel Martin. “We wanted to get together as a community and show love for one another in this trying time,” said Ethel Martin. Ethel also says that the family was chosen because they are always very dedicated, respectable, and deserving.
The owner of Patriot Tattooer, Francesca Morris, reached out to VPD to see how their shop could get involved and help give back this year. Morris and her sister, who is the manager at Patriot Tattooer, were raised by a single mother and experienced some difficult times growing up, so it is imperative for both women to give back whenever they can. “Everybody at the shop took a vote and decided to sponsor a family this year. As a kid who grew up in the system, I think it is crucial to give back. You can always reach out to the Police Department if you want to get involved. That is the easier way to find out who needs help and what you can do,” said Morris.
No one, of course, was more touched by this kind donation than mother Kinshasa Martin, who says, “We were blessed today, and I am so thankful for it because it has been a difficult time. I was not sure if we would be able to have a Christmas this year.” Kinshasa and her children have attended the Citizen Against Violence Venture Club for nearly three years, and are always a big help according to Mrs. Ethel Martin.
For more information on community outreach efforts, please contact Community Policing Officer Randall Hancock at (229) 242-2606 ext. 4090.
