Help for the holidays

Community initiative raises $4,000 for BMPD Christmas fund

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 18, 2020

Cheryl Milton and Maury Hurt present Black Mountain Police Chief Shawn Freeman with a plaque and a check for more than $4,000. The money will help support the department’s Christmas fund, which provides gifts for local families in need. Photo by Fred McCormick

What began as a simple gesture of appreciation for local law enforcement will make the holidays brighter for families in the community. 

Organizers of a fundraiser that provided a catered meal to Black Mountain police employees and their families presented a check for more than $4,000, and a plaque expressing appreciation for the department to Chief Shawn Freeman on Sept.15. The money will support the department’s annual Christmas fund, which provides gifts for local families in need during the holidays. 

Maury Hurt and Cheryl and Lisa Milton launched the campaign to show appreciation for the department in July. Local businesses and community members were invited to donate money for a meal, catered by Red Radish. Dozens of residents and business owners responded to the effort, which generated additional money to support the BMPD Christmas fund.

Last year, the department raised more than $12,000 for the fund, but the cancelation of the 2020 Sourwood Festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically decreased the 2020 contributions, according to Freeman, who added that the department’s booth at the festival generates the vast majority of revenue for the program.

“That’s really unfortunate, too,” he said. “We know the need is going to be even greater this year, with the economic impact of COVID.'“

Since the launch of the fund in 2017, officers have delivered dozens of holiday meals to Black Mountain residents and hundreds of toys to local families in the days before Christmas. The contribution from Hurt, each of the Miltons and others in the community will make a significant impact this year, Freeman said.

“This check will help us triple the amount of what we would’ve been able to do otherwise,” he said.

The department continues to accept donations for the Christmas fund, Freeman added. Contributions can be made by contacting BMPD at 828-419-9350, or through the department’s website.

“This is something we enjoy doing every year,” Freeman said. “We’re here for this community and this is one way we get to show that through making the holidays a little brighter for our residents.”