Big Hearted in Ladue

Ladue police officers have big hearts.

A number of families with children at Ladue Middle School are seriously struggling this holiday season. In fact, a half-dozen are homeless at this moment. Maxine Birdsong, a 19-year school counselor for the district sounded the alarm bell for these families in need.

"I started calling people in fire and police to see if we could get some immediate help. Ladue's police officers answered the call along with the force in Olivette."

Olivette's Beth Davis took care of donations from her fellow officers.

The officers pooled their cash and bought all kinds of gifts to brighten up the season for the children of these distressed families. Now, under the Christmas tree (if they have one) will be bicycles, clothing, games and gifts.

The officers took it all in stride. "Ms. Birdsong asked our resource officer at Ladue High Ken Andreski to pitch in and help and it just got rolling from there,"said Lieutenant Darin McClure of the Ladue force.

The officers wrapped the gifts, put the bikes together, made sure everything was in order and delivered the gifts to the families at the middle school. "They (the officers) even offered to deliver the gifts to the the families if they were unable to get to school," said Birdsong.

''I just started calling anyone I know on these forces and the Ladue and Olivette police offers answered our call. We're hoping we can get more departments from surrounding communities involved next year. The thing is, the need was right here in Ladue and these officers really took up our cause on short notice."

The Ladue officers would tell you this was no big deal. They were glad to pitch in.

No matter what, they made the holiday a little brighter for some families who are currently in full crisis mode.