Christmas is just around the corner and once again the King County Sheriff’s Office, North Bend Substation and the North Bend Washington State Patrol Detachment are sponsoring their annual “Operation Santa Claus.”

Donations of canned or packaged (nonperishable) food and wrapped toys marked with the appropriate age and sex of a child meant to receive the gift are being accepted at the King County Sheriff’s Office North Bend Substation at 1550 Boalch Ave. N.W. If you are unable to deliver these items, we will pick them up. If you wish to make a cash donation, there is a nonprofit account set up at the North Bend Bank of America in the name of “Operation Santa Claus.”

Too often people see deputies and troopers as only writing citations or putting people in jail. But we care about the citizens in the community, too, and would like to do something to help those in need. This is your chance to help us help them by allowing us to play Santa Claus one special day a year.

The deputies identify needy families from their daily patrols, and whatever is donated or collected by Dec. 12, 2005, is divided among those families and delivered on Dec. 20 by the North Bend deputies and troopers.

For further information (or to apply as a family in need), please call Judy Leonard or Kym Smith at the North Bend Substation, (425) 888-4433.

Sgt. Joe Hodgson

North Bend Substation

Commander

North Bend