Citizens on Patrol to serve up annual Weiser community Christmas dinner

 Once again members of the Weiser chapter of Citizens on Patrol (COP) and numerous volunteers will prepare and serve a community Christmas dinner for anyone who wants to enjoy good food and good tidings at the Weiser Senior and Community Center.

 The dinner of ham and all the fixings is free and serving will start at noon on Christmas day and go until about 2:30 p.m. People can dine at the senior center or order a take-out meal that volunteers will deliver by calling 549-2154.

 The COP’s Christmas day meal has been a holiday tradition in Weiser for the past 11 years. Members of the organization said they do it because they want to give back to the community that supports them. COP pays for the meal from donations the organization receives. 

 It all started with a $1,000 donation to the organization. Today, as when it first started, the intent was to offer a nice meal to those in the community that did not have family or somewhere to eat on Christmas Day. 

 Lifelong Weiser resident and COP charter member Lila Harper has cooked at the Christmas dinner since it began all those years ago. Another seven members of her family travel from Boise to Weiser on Christmas day to volunteer every year to help serve the dinner.

 “It’s just something I like to do. I like to be involved and help the community,” she said.

 Preparations for the big dinner actually get started on the day before. Harper prepares the ingredients for her potato casserole. The meal features sliced ham, candied yams, potato casserole, rolls, fruit salad and pumpkin dessert.

 Members of Weiser’s COP program, who are all volunteers, receive training from police and assist law enforcement in a number of ways. 

 A few of the tasks that COP volunteers perform include patrolling in school zones, making sure children are safe, checking businesses to make sure doors are locked after hours, assisting with funeral processions, helping out at community events and being an extra set of eyes and ears for officers. They use marked vehicles and are equipped with radios and cellphones to report crimes.

 The Citizens on Patrol program in Weiser began in 2007. Along with keeping an eye on things, COP volunteers sponsor a variety of events and even a little league baseball team. 

 The Weiser COP chapter is always looking for new members. Applications to join COP can be found at the Weiser Police Department.