The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) delivered Christmas dinner boxes and turkeys to families in need in Warren County Friday morning. Using West Elementary as their pick up point, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #44 made sure at least 25 families will eat very well this Christmas.

Retired Lt. Marvin Ricketts of the THP, now a state Trustee and member of the FOP Lodge 44, has helped with this annual event for many years. He explained how they coordinate it. “Every Christmas the Cookeville Sixth District of the Tennessee Highway Patrol chooses a county and concentrates on providing dinners for at least 25 families in need.  We have 15 counties to cover in this district so we rotate alphabetically each year. Last year we served Van Buren County, this year Warren and next year White County.”

President of the FOP #44, THP Trooper Brandon Jackson, and Trooper James Owens, current vice-president and soon to be secretary of the lodge, say every year’s a little different. “This year each family gets a large box of Christmas dinner food and a turkey. We get the food from a great grocery in Monterey, Tenn.,” said Owens. Both troopers are firm believers in giving back to the community and that good policing is about relationships and communication.

Director of Schools Dr. Grant Swallows was also on hand to witness the families picking up their Christmas dinners. “It’s a great location, West Elementary, for this kind of set up,” Swallows commented, admiring the efficiency and planning that went into the operation. The receiving families were identified through the school system and each family given a voucher. The family was then given a window of time to pick up their dinners. 

The Tennessee Highway Patrol, Warren County Schools and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #44 wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas this year.