Merry Christmas from Athens and its version of the North Pole!

ATHENS-An Athens police sergeant playing Santa met with her elves  to pack and deliver gift bags for seniors at the local nursing homes and in assisted living centers and being cared for by Hospice and DHR.

Athens Police Sgt. Katrina Flanagan’s family, friends and city co-workers met at Friendship United Methodist to put the gift bags together with items such as blankets, lotion, snacks, puzzle books and more. Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick and Mrs. Claus also dropped by to help.

In addition, Flanagan’s Gifts for the Elderly program received enough donations to help some seniors with various bills, and will provide pizza for nursing home staff working on Christmas Eve. Flanagan started the program in 2018 to “share some Christmas spirit with some of our (the community’s) grandparents, some who unfortunately are sometimes forgotten this time of year.”