Maryvale needy family finds Santa at Ashley Furniture
The Johnson family recently moved to Phoenix after losing everything they owned during the recent 500-year flood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mrs. Johnson is a single grandmother who is raising six grandchildren ages six to 14.
Each year the Phoenix Police Department’s Maryvale Precinct adopts a family from the area who is in desperate need of assistance. The families are identified through schools, churches and community organizations and through police officers who meet them through their regular patrol duties. The families are interviewed and the difficulty comes with making a decision about which family is most in need.
Maryvale Officer Bobbie Moreland visited the Johnson home to learn more about her family and their needs. She immediately noticed that, while the home was tidy, it was void of any children’s toys and had very little furniture. Mrs. Johnson explained that she and her grandchildren had thought they could ride out the Iowa storm and had remained in their house until the National Guard “came knocking on our door and told us we had to evacuate.” They attempted to rebuild their lives in Cedar Rapids but found the task to be overwhelming and decided the family needed a new start in a warmer climate. She and the children; one girl and five boys, moved to Phoenix with just the clothes on their backs.
Officer Moreland saw a newspaper ad featuring Ashley Furniture’s annual “All I Want for Christmas Furniture Giveaway” and made contact with the organizers. The Johnson family was one of 10 needy families who were treated to a $4,000 shopping spree on Thursday morning, December 17, 2009. As the Johnson family, escorted by Maryvale officers walked into the huge showroom, store employees, media and even the “bearded one in red” met them with applause and even a few tears of joy!
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
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Sgt Tony Boynton and a member of the Johnson family |
The family inside Ashley Furniture |
Officer Tammy Hort helping one of the Johnson children |
Kids at Ashley Furniture with Santa |