Retired Lower Cop Hopes for Holiday Miracle

COLD SPRING — Jim Dietterich’s story is the stuff Christmas movies are made of. It doesn’t involve an angel named Clarence,or an elf named Herbie, or a scrooge named Ebenezer, or even a boy named Ralphie. What it does involve is an organization called the Lower Township Kids’ Christmas Program making happy endings for thousands of people throughout the community.
“It was my rookie year,” said Dietterich, a retired Lower Township police officer. “I was working Christmas Eve. A man called, saying that a woman was crying on her step.”
When Dietterich arrived at the address given to him, he found a woman in tears because she had nothing for her children. No tree, no lights, no gifts – no Christmas.
“What was I going to do?” asked Dietterich. “I was a cop. So I went back to the station and talked to a few grizzly guys.”
Somehow the four officers found ornaments, lights and a few toys, which they packed into trash bags.
“We drove up to the house with bags of stuff,” he said. “We looked like a bunch of robbers instead of cops. We banged on the door with our nightsticks and ran away.”
Dietterich and his coworkers never found out what happened that night 35 years ago. But from that Christmas on, he has made it his mission to make sure that local families in need have a happy holiday.
Fellow police department employee Dottie Crawford joined Dietterich. Ironically, Crawford, a dispatcher for Lower Township, was also working behind the scenes as an unsung single Santa. The two joined forces in 1976. Crawford takes care of the toys, toiletries and clothing end while Dietterich takes care of food – making sure that everyone sits down to a Christmas dinner.
Their first year, Dietterich and Crawford were able to provide Christmas for one family. Since then, it has grown exponentially. Last year’s list included 225 families and over 500 children. The Lower Township Kids’ Christmas Program was able to make the holiday a reality for each of them.
Dietterich, who spent nine years at the Maude Abrams School as its School Resource Officer, is now a Behavior Management Assistant at the school. Crawford, who retired from the police department and moved to South Carolina, found herself back in Lower Township.
“We thought we’d retire (from the program) together,” said Dietterich. “But Dottie moved back. She wanted to be here for the program.”
Collecting for families in need during tough economic times is getting harder and harder. “These are bad times,” said Dietterich. “It doesn’t matter who you are, it has affected you.” According to Dietterich, at this point, monetary donations are down 75 percent over last year.
“We have a good program, but it’s getting tough out there,” he said.
Feeding over 200 families takes a lot of food. That means donations and food drives. Some food comes to the organization through a food drive at the Sandman School as well as donations by the Rotary.
“But the majority of our food comes from the Post Office food drive,” said Dietterich.
This year, postal workers at the Cape May Post Office will collect non-perishable food for the Lower Township Kids’ Christmas Program on Sat., Dec. 10.
“The post office employees work very hard every year,” said Dietetrich. “They collect so much food for us.”
Unlike some agencies, 100 percent of the food collected for the Lower Township Kids’ Christmas Program stays in the community.
“We want to assure people that the food stays here,” said Dietterich. “All of the food collected by our sources stays here locally.”
Lists of local needy families come to the organization in many ways. Schools, police, firefighters, neighbors, local organizations and even some-times families refer to the program.
Delivery day is the Sunday before Christmas. Prior to that, Dietterich’s and Crawford’s elves go into high gear.
“The items are not wrapped,” said Dietterich, “but we do include a roll of gift wrap so the parent can wrap the present.” Children are also given a sweatshirt, socks and gloves, along with a toy. Enough food for a Christmas dinner is also given to the family.
“They get everything a kid ought to have,” Dietterich said.
Teams of people from all walks of the community assemble to help package the items and send them out.
“Many people who have gotten from us, have helped us,” said Dietterich. “They have no idea they are receiving anything until they get it. We keep everything as anonymous as we can,” he said. “Only Dottie and I know people’s names.”
“I want people to know that we are out there trying to help, but we need help,” said Dietterich. “We’ve never denied a family yet; and we don’t intend to.”
As the Christmas season grows closer and the economy looks more bleak, Dietterich remains optimistic that the program will be able to once again meet the needs of its community.
“People come out of the woodwork eventually,” he said. “This is the time miracles happen. I’m hoping for a miracle.”
Anyone interested in helping the Lower Township Kids’ Christmas Program can contact Dietterich at 609-884-9420, extension 3008 or drop by the Maude Abrams School. Donations can also be taken to the Lower Township Police Department. Donations of non-perishable food can be left at mailboxes on Sat. Dec. 10 or taken to the Cape May Post Office.