For the fifth year in a row, EPPD staff got to brighten people’s holidays with the help of a generous donation from the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund.

The Crime Prevention Fund provided $50 cash for 75 department members to distribute to a community member as they saw fit. An anonymous donor provided funding for the program.

EPPD staff members gave away the money throughout December. Here are a few of the recipients of the Crime Prevention Fund’s gift:

• A family whose home was involved in a structure fire.
• A family living in their car.
• A restaurant employee working on Christmas Eve.
• A gas station employee whose family is struggling with multiple health issues.
• An immigrant who was trafficked but recently obtained a work permit and is working two jobs.
• A student whose headphones were stolen after saving his own money to purchase them.
• A delivery truck driver working late to make holiday deliveries.
• A parent of a child with special needs who is struggling to purchase basic essentials.
• The parents of a ten-year-old child who was searching the clearance rack for shoes.
• A homeless couple needing money for gas and car repairs.
• A victim of sexual assault who has a young child and is facing an upcoming medical procedure.
• A veteran ringing a Salvation Army bell.
• A low-income couple who needed help with groceries.
• A senior citizen who has been living in hotels and is transitioning to permanent housing.
• A woman who lost her husband and had her home broken into in the same month.
• A restaurant employee who has been down on his luck but is always in good spirits.

The EPPD is deeply grateful to the Crime Prevention Fund for allowing us to share joy with our residents during the holidays.