Behind the Badge
Trail mix. Gift cards. Homemade cookies.
These and scores of other goodies and gifts were packed into baskets and delivered to 15 law enforcement agencies Thursday by volunteers who work for a nonprofit that works closely with police, fire agencies and hospitals.
More than two-dozen volunteers with Trauma Intervention Program of Orange County (TIP) assembled the baskets Wednesday evening and fanned out to the agencies Aug. 11 to show their appreciation for police at a time when law enforcement has been the target of violence.
TIP volunteers provide emotional first aid to people in the hours immediately following a tragedy, such as a death in the home or a fatal traffic accident. They are called to scenes of tragedy at the request of police, fire agencies and hospitals that contract with TIP to provide the service free of charge to the public.
TIP volunteer Greg Cline reaches over as he and other volunteers assemble gift baskets for police agencies on Wednesday, Aug. 10. The baskets were delivered the next day.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Thursday’s basket deliveries were a way for TIP to show the law enforcement agencies their appreciation for all they do, and also for the support they show to the TIP program, said Mindy Daffron, TIP crisis team co-manager.
“We see the positive side of law enforcement every day,” Daffron said, “and this is just a small sign of showing our support for them. We always strive to help bring awareness to the positive aspects of law enforcement.”
TIP volunteers donated the goodies and baskets as well as their time delivering them.
One TIP volunteer, Charlotte Woods, of Irvine, spent 16 hours making 13 ½ dozen sugar cookies — eight hours to mix and bake, eight hours to decorate. The cookies were in the shape of a heart with blue trim to reflect the “Blue Lives Matter” perspective.
Volunteers said the gift baskets were well received by the agencies, which included the Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Buena Park, Orange, Los Alamitos, Anaheim, Irvine and Cypress PDs, the California Highway Patrol, and five Orange County Sheriff’s Dept. stations: Yorba Linda, Santa Ana, Aliso Viejo, Lake Forest and San Clemente.
One volunteer dropped a basket off at the CHP office in San Juan Capistrano.
Appreciation gift baskets from TIP volunteers were delivered to the police agencies they work with.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“Before I could even say why I was there,” she said, “I was met with great positive feedback from them about TIP — how they love working with us and are so appreciative of what we do. I told them we love working with the CHP and are very appreciative of the great job they do for Orange County.”
The Brea PD tweeted:
We had a nice surprise when our friends @OrangeCountyTIP dropped off some goodies today. Thanks so much!
TIP volunteer Gregory Cline said he helped pack the gift baskets not only as a sign of his support for the police, but also because it gave him a rare chance to interact with his fellow TIP volunteers.
“We don’t often get the opportunity to spend fun, quality time together,” said Cline, a TIP volunteer for one year. “The interaction was something I enjoyed.”
Editor’s note: The writer is a TIP volunteer. For more information, visit tiporangecounty.org
TIP volunteer Margaret Mueller walks down the line placing items in each basket bound for police agencies.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
TIP volunteers Tina Swift, left, and Greg Cline help assemble the appreciation gift baskets.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
