NEWSPAPERS n o i t i d E l a i c e Sp
December 3, 2025 candgnews.com
Macomb County and Grosse Pointe papers
Groups work to ensure there is ‘No Child Without a Christmas’ BY TAYLOR CHRISTENSEN
T
tchristensen@candgnews.com
he holiday season is upon us, and families all over are preparing for the next few months of fun, food and gifts. But some families are wondering how they are going to pull it off for their children. To help, local charities and nonprofit organizations come together each year to supply families in need with gifts and food for the holiday season. For the 31st year, the Troy Police Department is hosting “Operation Blue Sleigh,” a program aimed at helping families in need in the Troy area have the best holiday ever. Officer Greg Pokley, with the Troy Police Department, said that the team is helping 41 families this year. Pokley said that 95% of the families selected are identified through the school system and can include kids who are on the free lunch program, or those that teachers know need help the most. The other 15% are chosen by road patrol officers who notice families in need. “Operation Blue Sleigh encompasses our gift card drive, Shop with a Cop, and then adopt a family,” Pokley said. “This year I have 41 families and that number keeps going up every year.” During the Shop with a Cop portion of the program, officers take the kids through Walmart and buy the kids a gift with a $100 gift card provided by Walmart. “We have 41 families and 41 sponsors, generous, generous sponsors, throughout
ABOVE: Operation Blue Sleigh organizers pose together for a photo with Santa. LEFT: Gifts are piled up at the Troy Police Department for Operation Blue Sleigh. Photos providedby Greg Pokley
See CHRISTMAS on page 9A
In class Nov. 19, senior Dylan Bush, left, looks for a tool while senior David Nelson works on the brake system of a car. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes
FITZGERALD SCHOOL PROGRAMS BENEFIT FROM GRANT MONEY BY MARIA ALLARD allard@candgnews.com
WARREN — Fitzgerald Public Schools is getting a boost for two of its programs through grant money the district recently received. On Nov. 11, it was announced the district received a $2,500 grant from the Detroit Lions Foundation to support its Fitzgerald High School girls flag football team, and a $48,000 grant from the Margaret Dunning Foundation to support the high school’s auto technology program. Flag football is a noncontact version of American football. Players wear belts with detachable flags. The game is played by pulling off a ball carrier’s flag to end a play instead of tacking the opponent. See FITZGERALD on page 10A