County police association continues Christmas is for Kids program

When the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office said it could not run its annual Christmas gift-giving drive, another law enforcement group stepped up.

The sheriff’s office had run Christmas is for Kids for nearly 40 years, but announced on social media in November that staffing issues would prohibit it from doing so in 2025. That’s when the Trempealeau County Professional Police Association (TCPPA) stepped in to lend a helping hand. 

TCPPA President Adam Julson and Vice President Jim Williams were in contact with the sheriff’s office and both organizations worked together, along with many volunteers, to make the drive possible. TCPPA worked with county school districts to learn about kids who were in need. It then set up a Christmas tree in the Trempealeau County Justice Center — just outside the sheriff’s office — where volunteers could collect tags to sponsor families. 

“We were supported by gift givers reaching out through social media, walk-ins who took cards of the giving tree, and some of our members’ churches,” Williams said. “We collected gifts specifically for the children’s wants and needs.”

Donations from association members also helped provide gifts, clothes and supplies to 168 children.

Williams said family members of officers in the association, spouses and children, did much of the packaging. 

Families were able to come to the sheriff’s office to pick up the gifts, meet the sheriff and her staff as well as other law enforcement officers while enjoying hot chocolate and other treats. 

“With the exception of a few very late entries, we believe everyone who asked received gifts,” Williams said. “The sheriff and her staff came together, we felt it was a clear success and it brought us much joy to do.”