Operation Blue Star a Great Success

LFPD Gives Away Hundreds of Toys

by Bill Keltner

La Feria Police Chief Cesar Diaz said “we were amazed and pleased by the enthusiastic support for this year’s 1st Annual Operation Blue Star toy giveaway program for our boys and girls. And we want to express our thanks to all who donated toys and volunteered their time to make the project a huge success.”

Operation Blue Star is the brain child of Chief Diaz who is continuing the 15-year tradition of the former La Feria police chief, Don Garcia. In years past, the La Feria Fire Department distributed the donated toys and gifts to area boys and girls from the familiar, decorated fire trucks cruising the city streets of La Feria. This year Fire Chief Greg Hernandez and a number of his firefighters delivered toys to Santa Maria.

In the final count, Operation Blue Star provided over 800 free Christmas packages to youngsters who showed up at the police station.. Chief Diaz said the program was so successful and well-supported that 500 more gifts were put aboard a La Feria fire truck which took them for distribution within the Santa Maria I.S.D.

The La Feria Police and Volunteer Fire Departments wish to thank the following generous people who volunteered time and toys for the project:

• La Feria City Mayor Olga Maldonado
• City Manager Jaime S. Sandoval
• La Feria Commissioners
• The Bottle Shop
• La Feria High School Class of 2002
• Almaraz Wrecker
• Los Leones
• Harlingen Country Club
• Carnival
• Mrs. Debra V.
• Sassy Stichers
• Sam Houston Student Council
• Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bauer
• James F. Bauer
• Bauer Harvesting
• Hearing Aid Company
• Fiesta Tex Mex
• BBVA
• El Centro
• Bert Ogden
• 1st Community Bank
• Family Dollar
• First Baptist Church
• Wolf Farms
• Mr. and Mrs. Mario Prado
• VIP Park
• Mid Valley Agriculture
• Neighborhood Doctor
• State Farm John Ftacek
• Valley Liftman
• La Feria RV Park
• Citrus Village Park
• Kenwood Park
• Yellow Rose Park
• Palmera Heights Park
• Texas Rose Park
• Heavenly Grace
• City Hall
• La Feria Volunteer Fire Department
• Vasquez Center Air
• Ben Guerrero and Family
• Wal Mart Harlingen
• Collision Stop
• Dollar General
• La Feria Police Department

The La Feria Police and Volunteer Fire Departments thank all who donated and volunteered their time – THANK YOU!