Morgan’s Point Resort Community Outreach for Police Support (MPR COPS), in partnership with the Morgan’s Point Resort Police Department (MPRPD), delivered 38 Silver Santa gift bags to senior citizens in need this holiday season.
Planning and preparation officially began in November. The heartbeat of Morgan’s Point Resort is evident in the way volunteers work alongside city departments, bringing the community together to serve others.
The MPR COPS nonprofit’s mission is to “work together facilitating a strong supportive bond with the MPR Police Department and our community.” Founded in 2020, the Silver Santa initiative began in 2021.
Lynn Milam, president of MPR COPS and a geriatrics home nurse, said the need became clear as they learned more about seniors in the area.
“Unnoticed by many were seniors living in MPR that go without insurance, in-home healthcare, and visits,” Milam said. “We never knew, so when we found that out, it was a no-brainer. That was a unanimous vote… we just went to work.”
Morgan’s Point Resort residents provided names and contact information for local seniors in need. Additional recipients were selected through the MPRPD.
The official Silver Santa senior wish list included Christmas stockings, calendars, bandages, lip balm, small notepads, drink insulators, compression socks, jumbo puzzles, books, jumbo playing cards, small flashlights, pocket planners, jar openers, disposable face masks, large-piece jigsaw puzzles, hand sanitizers, and box tissues. The bags are also personalized as volunteers learn more about each senior’s specific needs.
“We try to fill in on things that they might skip… because food might be more important,” Milam said.
The nonprofit’s nine-member group held a bag-stuffing party to prepare the gifts.
“So we were building bags and having dinner, you know, some tea—we just turn it into something fun,” Milam said.
Deliveries took place on the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before Christmas.
Milam recalled one particularly touching delivery.
“They had just had to put mama in the nursing home the day before. And the son excused himself. He said, ‘Well, I’ll let y’all, you know, have your time.’ And I sat down with him. He was telling me stories about how that had been the first night they’d ever been apart. And I sat there hearing stories about his wife and him. Some of them were very touching. Some of them were sad. And some of them were hilarious. I had the best time ever.”
Officer Gustavo McMillen, dive team coordinator, delivered Silver Santa bags to recipients nominated by the MPRPD.
“Some of the police officers who go to these people’s homes, we don’t even know who they are. We give them to Gus, and he gets them out there,” Milam said.
“But we do love Silver Santa the best because we know that it’s doing good for people that can’t do it for themselves. We would never not do the Silver Santa,” she added.
MPR COPS meets monthly at 60 Morgan’s Point Boulevard inside the Garrett and Mic Hill Event Center. The organization is actively welcoming new members. The group will not meet in January. Annual dues are $20.
Community members can follow and message MPR COPS on Facebook to learn more or get involved.
