Mt. Greenwood Kids' Holiday Cards Lift First Responders' Sagging Spirits

Students from Mt. Greenwood and Cassell Elementary Schools delivered over 1,000 handmade Christmas cards thanking the neighborhood’s first responders.

A group of moms, Kim Tracy, Ginny Harrigan, Patty Mueller and Jeanne Zaper, organized the card drive to help lift the spirits of the neighborhood’s first responders impacted by recent events and who may not get to spend Christmas with their families because they are working.

Tracy, a police dispatcher for the city and the wife of a Chicago police officer, said that she and her friends were horrified last year by the way first responders were being treated and portrayed after the events in Ferguson, MO.

“Last year during the holidays was a low point for law enforcement with the Derrick Wilson case,” Tracy said, whose children attend Mt. Greenwood Elementary School. “We decided we had to do something to get their spirits up.”

The moms collected about 500 cards from local families, which were presented to the neighborhood’s first responders.

“When we sat down to sort them we were amazed at the little crayon scribbled messages inside,” Tracy said. “We hand delivered to them to the 22nd District police and fire department. They were so thankful.”

The events of the past month and worldwide attention on the demonstrations in Chicago related to the release of the Laquan McDonald video have again led to sagging morale among the city’s police officers.

The neighborhood is also still reeling from the loss of Mt. Greenwood firefighter, Dan Capuano, who was killed in the line of duty last week.

“This year we decided to reach out to Mount Greenwood and Cassell schools and the response has been even bigger,” Tracy said.

The initiative is similar to statements made by Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th) at the renaming of the Mt. Greenwood Post Office building after fallen firefighter Capt. Herbert Johnson.

O’Shea told Sunday’s gathering of several hundred neighbors, many of them with family members in police and fire departments, that it was time to turn the ugliness of recent events around.

Tracy said the moms sorted through the children’s cards “through the laughter and the tears,” which include poems, drawings and notes of gratitude. A boy named Jake, who is visually impaired, made his card in Braille with the help of a teacher’s aide.

Many of the writers are the children and grandchildren of police officers and firefighters, who speak of the ache of not having a mom or dad there to open presents on Christmas morning because their parents have to work.

“Police Officer, Thank you for protecting our city on one of the most special days of the year. I know how it feels for your kids to not have a dad or mom there on Christmas because I am the son of a police officer and last year on Christmas my dad wasn’t there …”

“Thank you for protecting our city and keeping everyone safe. Even though you might not get to spend much time with your family on Christmas, I hope you have a safe and happy holiday this year. My dad is a police officer so I know how it feels to not be with him sometimes.”

“Dear CFD, Thank you for saving everyone. I hope you have a great holiday. And remember, stop, drop and roll.”

“Dear Brave One … This might seem a little cheesy, but I really appreciate everything that is done for us.”

“Thank-you for protecting us from dangerous hazorts like fires, criminals and distruction. Thank you for risking your life for mine.”

“I don’t know why it’s cool to hate on cops these days.”

“These little ones are very much aware of what is happening right now,” Tracy says.

The cards were delivered Monday to the 22nd Police District station and Chicago Fire Department Station 92 on 111th Street.

“We want our Chicago police officers and firefighters to know that for every child being taught to fear or dislike them, there a hundred others being taught to admire, respect and be thankful for them,” Tracy said. “If we can put a smile on their faces before they start their shift, then our mission was accomplished.”