JOHN COFFELTEditor

Manchester Police Department distributed 100 angel tree gift packages and 50 family food boxes during a drive through event, Friday, Dec. 15 at City Hall.

“We’re all community and public servants,” Police Chief Bill Sipe said. “This is a way to give back to our community.”

“We enjoy getting together and the cometary between each of our members. It’s a way for the community to give back as well. We are sort of the middleman in a way,” he said.

“We appreciate all the community does for this and the opportunities to give back,” he said.

According to Assistant Chief Adam Floied the children’s lists were given to the department by the Manchester City Schools Family Resource Center Coordinator BJ Sylvia.

“The schools pick out the kids that need some assistance this Christmas,” Floied said. “They send us a list. We don’t get names. We just get numbers.”

That number includes a list of interests for toys. Officers then add personal hygiene items, clothes, jackets or shoes that matches the age and gender of the recipient.

Food baskets are filled with items from Spring Street Market.

The items were purchased using 100% donations, Floied explained. Some of those funds were collected from the Manchester Police Department Calendar ads, donations from the Sportsman and Businessman Charitable Organization, Bonnaroo Works Fund and several families including the Johnson family who purchase toys throughout the year for this event.

Leftover toys will be distributed in the coming days from around the tree in the police station and, as weather and supplies permit, will be placed around the Christmas tree on the courthouse lawn.

“We’ll pick random days and put what we can under the tree and send an media blast on the social media,” Floied said.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.