WORTHINGTON — Worthington officers hit the streets Friday afternoon for their third annual Secret Santa mission.
Several officers distributed $800 of "Kern's Christmas Cash" to residents who could use some extra spirit this holiday season. Officers randomly selected residents during traffic stops or who were walking on the street. A couple families were also pre-selected, and officers paid personal visits to their homes to drop off the cash Friday afternoon.
This is the first year the department has publicly honored Kern Schwartz, who had funded the program anonymously until his Aug. 20 death.
1/Silvia Hernandez (left) listens as Worthington Police Officer Tyler Olson explains the purpose of Friday afternoon's traffic stop isn't to issue a ticket, but to gift her 'Kern's Christmas Cash' as part of the department's annual Secret Santa event. The department handed out $800 between several people and families across Worthington, which has been made possible for the past three years by donations from Kern Schwartz, who had funded the program anonymously until his Aug. 20 death. (Tim Middagh/The Globe)
2/Worthington Police Sgt. Josh McCuen (back, from left) and officers Madison Stearns, Tyler Olson and Jake Walker make a special house visit to a Worthington family Friday afternoon that the department identified could use some 'Kern's Christmas Cash' during the holiday season. (Tim Middagh/The Globe)
