Operation Santa Dash

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Santa and the Grinch rode around the city to give love to adults and children in care facilities today.

Bowling Green Police Department public information officer Ronnie Ward led the caravan that featured a sleigh and even a firetruck.

“This idea started when COVID happened and people couldn’t get out and they came up with this idea to put Santa and a sleigh on a trailer and just towed him around town. Then we started visiting nursing homes and seniors, senior centers and facilities and also daycares and the list has grown and grown and grown,” Ward said.

One stop was at the Barren River Adult Day Care Center outpatient facility operated by Med Center Health. Recreation therapist Allison Cash says the event means more than one might think to the adults at the facility.

“It’s always a good day whenever you see saying that they care. It is amazing because these people don’t get to see Christmas parades ever, ever, because most of these live in a foster setting and once they go home, they go home,” Cash said.

The event brought to joy to the hearts and minds of the individuals at the daycare facility, and it was a bright spot in their week.

“The social aspect of day care is what they come for. So, you know, getting to see the grant, getting to see even Ronnie Ward, Santa, all of that, the firetruck, that’s a big deal to them. So, you know, we try to make how to be a highlight of their day,” Cash said.