31st Annual Holiday Food Basket Program Supports Over 2,000 Families

Upper Marlboro, MD…  Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor, Board President of the Public Safety Assistance Program, Inc. board was joined by Sheriff Melvin C. High, County Police Chief Mark Magaw, Director, Department of Corrections Mary Lou McDonough, Homeland Security and other board members for the official kickoff press conference of the 31^st Annual Holiday Food Basket Program today.  The event marked the beginning of deliveries of over 2,000 food baskets to county families.

County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III joined sworn and civilian employees from public safety agencies and other departments to start the day with the traditional “Hearty Fireman’s Breakfast” at the Saint Joseph’s Fire/EMS Station #806 in Glendale, MD.

Bill Milligan, Executive Director of the Public Safety Assistance Program thanked everyone for their generosity and participation, with a special thank you and recognition for sponsors such as longtime sponsor Safeway, the Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA) and other sponsors who continue to donate time and resources to this worthy cause. “This simply would not be possible without support from all our sponsors who continue to support us year after year,” said Mulligan.

The Public Safety Assistance, Inc. Holiday Food Basket Program started many years ago when two law enforcement officers watched a man peel leaves from a head of lettuce because he couldn’t afford the whole thing.  That story found its way to the public safety agency heads who started the program. Thirty-one years later the program continues to make a difference and helps to bring joy to county citizens during the holiday season. 

Once the food baskets were filled, they were loaded into a trailer and a caravan led by Santa riding on a fire engine under police escort headed off to the Emerson House Senior Community in Bladensburg MD.  Santa with his team of Public Safety Assistants were greeted cheerfully by the residents as food baskets were presented. Santa and his team made more food basket delivers throughout the day – all in the spirit of giving.

  

For more information contact the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff’s Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-7354.

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