West Deer Christmas gift program a 'labor of love,' police chief says

When it comes to Christmas shopping, West Deer police Chief Jon Lape has an eye for deals.

That pays off when you’re shopping for hundreds of children. Lape has spearheaded a campaign for the past 23 years to provide gifts to needy families in West Deer, and he buys most of the toys and clothing that aren’t donated.

“It’s a labor of love,” said Lape, who has learned where and when to shop for the best bargains and often holds out for half-off sales to stretch the budget.

As of Thursday, about 20 volunteers working with township police had wrapped more than 1,300 presents to be distributed to township parents who will give the items to their children, according to volunteer Carol McCaskey of West Deer.

That tally doesn’t include festive, seasonal gift bags including coats, hats and gloves for children that also will be distributed.

“When parents can barely feed their children, how can they have money for gifts? They can’t,” said volunteer Jim Baird, 73, a retired teacher from West Deer, as he stood in front of a wall of wrapped gifts at the township’s EMS building on East Union Road.

“This gives kids hope,” added JoAnn Weiss of West Deer, a retired secretary at a dental office in West Deer.

It also has an impact on the volunteers.

“I look forward to this. This is the spirit of Christmas. It makes my Christmas,” said volunteer Bonnie Baird, Jim Baird’s wife and also a retired teacher. “When you do for others, it makes you feel good.”