For the fourth year in a row, EPPD staff got to brighten people’s holidays with the help of a generous donation from the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund.

The Crime Prevention Fund provided $50 cash for 74 department members to distribute to a community member as they saw fit. An anonymous donor provided funding for the program.

EPPD staff members gave away the money throughout December.

Here are a few of the recipients of the Crime Prevention Fund’s gift:

• Two alert gas station clerks who stopped a woman from falling victim to a $20,000 fraud.
• A family who had recently been evicted and had no place to stay.
• A student whose family was struggling financially due to a major medical expense.
• An employee at a fast food restaurant who is always friendly and supportive.
• A gas station employee who is caring for her sister’s young children after their mother was killed last spring.
• An unhoused person after they were transported to the Salvation Army Shelter.
• A single mother going through chemo to use for help with food and vehicle tabs.
• An 11-year-old boy who was shopping for holiday gifts by himself.
• A victim of domestic violence to pay for food for their young children.
• A woman who had money stolen out of her purse at her place of work.
• A victim whose car was stolen and severely damaged and who could not afford more than basic car insurance.
• A family with four young children from Afghanistan whose father worked with coalition forces in Afghanistan and fled after the Taliban moved in.

The EPPD is deeply grateful to the Crime Prevention Fund for allowing us to share joy with our residents during the holidays.