‘Best day I’ve had in a long time’: Families in need get gifts from Malone Center and LPD

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The spirit of Christmas was alive and well Monday at the Belmont Community Center.

The Lincoln Police Department and the Malone Center gave out gifts to some families in need, all thanks to generous donors.

Families that arrived at the community center knew they were selected to receive a gift but didn’t know what it was.

The kids received a stocking of candy, and each family received $300 in cash.

LPD and the Malone Center had raised nearly $26,000, which is enough to help about 85 families.

The impact just $300 makes is not small, and in some cases, it can save Christmas.

“I just haven’t been able to do this year what I normally am able to do, so this is, like, so much needed this year right now,” recipient Sarah Herman said. “Now we can have a Christmas, so I’m ecstatic. This was probably the best day I’ve had in a long time.”

This is the second year of the event, and the Malone Center and LPD will go to a couple different community centers.

Each center picks 30 or 40 people who need the gift, then the recipients are selected randomly.