The Ocala Police Department recently received a generous donation from the Friends of the Christmas Parade, and the funds will be used to benefit local community outreach programs.
On Wednesday, members of the Ocala Christmas Parade’s planning committee stopped by OPD headquarters to hand-deliver a check, in the amount of $8,000, to Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken.
In a social media post, the Ocala Police Department stated that the annual Ocala Christmas Parade is a “monumental occasion” that requires an all-hands-on-deck approach for not just OPD, but local law enforcement agencies as well.
During the parade, the Ocala Police Department’s top priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of the 80,000-plus attendees, which makes the event a “massive undertaking behind the scenes.” Despite the effort involved, OPD views the parade as a “truly wonderful and joyous event,” and Ocala’s police officers take pride in playing a pivotal role in the tradition.
On its Facebook page, the Ocala Police Department stated that it is “incredibly grateful” to the Friends of the Christmas Parade for the generous donation, and these funds will have a “positive impact on countless lives in our community.”
For more information about the Ocala Christmas Parade, visit the annual event’s website or Facebook page.