On Saturday, December 7, 2024, Garrett County hosted the 9th Annual Police Providing Presents event. Volunteers from four (04) Garrett County law enforcement agencies along with the Garrett County Department of Social Services, Garrett County Board of Education, and the Garrett County Health Department partnered together to help make the event possible.
The nationwide event may be called different names, but the event’s meaning stays the same. The event provided children selected through Garrett County Schools the opportunity to be paired with members from the Maryland State Police, Garrett County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland Natural Resource Polic,e and the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office who spent the day as partners.
The event started with the officers picking up their partners for the day, shopping for gifts at the Oakland Walmart, and attending a luncheon with activities at the Garrett County Fairgrounds. The activities included vehicle (fire truck and ambulance) demonstrations, Christmas card making, ornament building, cookie decorating, and interactive fun games. The purchased gifts were wrapped during the activities by volunteers for the children to take home to their families.
A special thanks to the Garrett County Department of Social Services for their partnership when Police Proving Presents first started and for support for the program each year!! Also, thank you to Garrett County Public Schools for their assistance in selecting the children for the event.
We want to thank the many businesses and individuals who made donations. It’s because of you that helped make this event a huge success! We would like to give a special thanks to Oakland Walmart, Garrett County Fair Board, Crossroads Church, Deep Creek Fire Department, Garrett County Emergency Services, Ledo Pizza, Pizza Hut, Subway (Oakland Walmart), Arrowhead Market, McDonald’s (Deep Creek Lake), Wisp Resort, Funland, Monkey Business Adventure Park, Marissa Mullenax Bakery, Samantha Funding the Arts, Chaney Excavating, UTZ (Cumberland), Katie’s Ice Cream, Maryland State Highway Administration, Garrett County Roads, event volunteers and all of the citizens, businesses and churches who made donations to the program. Without the generosity of all involved the event would not have been possible.
The annual Police Providing Presents event was again a great success. Those wishing to donate for next year’s event, scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2025, can make donations in the form of checks or money orders to Garrett County Department of Social Services (GCDSS), 12578 Garrett Highway, Oakland, Maryland 21550, and specify “Police Providing Presents.” Donations can also be mailed or dropped off in person at the GCDSS.
2024 Donors received up until the event date:
- Automotive Machine
- Rush Services Oak Grove Church Brethren Total Biz Fulfillment
- Grantsville Equipment Company LLC Ritchie Trucking & Excavating Inc Beechwood Coal, LLC
- Wepco Federal Credit Union
- Broadwater Trucking
- Garrett County Mem Post VFW 10077
- Glotfelty Enterprises
- Penn Alps, Inc
- Garrett Orthopedic Physical Therapy and Rehab
- Dream Dental
- The Grantsville Fire Department
- Four Seasons Stitchery, Inc
- American Legion Proctor Kildow
- First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union
- Deep Creek Volunteer Fire CO. Inc
- Oakland Lodge NO. 2481 Elks Lodge
- Hoyes United Methodist Church Inc
- C. Palmer Die Casting, Inc.
- Action Hardware LLC
- G&W Lumber, Inc.
- Eastern Garrett County Volunteer
- FireHair and Faces by Tina
- Bethel United Methodist Church Bethel Women
- Mountain Top Cruisers LLC
- Highland Thrift Shop
- St. John’s Lutheran Church
- Oakland MRI Center, LLC
- Greenville Evangelical Lutheran Church Endowment Fund
- Mill Run Mercy Chapel
- Deer Park Sportsmans Club
- Oakland MVA
