One thousand children — from infants to high school seniors — received a Christmas present Thursday in Sulphur. Santa was there to greet them, along with Buddy the Elf, Ralphie in his pink pajama suit and the Grinch, too. However, the folks behind this giving event were mostly dressed in blue.

It was the first-ever Calcasieu Christmas, a collaborative effort of the Ward 3 and 4 Marshals offices, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sulphur Police Department, Westlake Police Department and the Louisiana State Police. Some Lake Charles Police officers also participated.

Marshal Brandon Dever said the Ward 4 Marshal’s Office hosted the Marshal’s Christmas at its U.S. 90 office last year.

“We outgrew that,” he said. “Citgo was our sponsor, and it was their idea to get the other officers and volunteers involved.”

Officers volunteered their time and were encouraged to bring a family member. On-duty officers direct traffic, which was much needed Thursday. The half-mile-or-so Arena Road stayed backed up to Ruth Street with vehicles waiting their turn to drive through the West Cal Event Center parking lot. Before picking up gifts, the parent or guardian would tell a volunteer the ages of the children who needed a gift. The information was relayed to tables nearer the Event Center. Each table represented a different age group.

Every single present was wrapped by two “phenomenal elves,” Dever said. He saw some of the children rip through the paper before they left the parking lot. Some of the parents and grandparents left children at home to keep the gifts a surprise until Christmas morning.

“It’s just a phenomenal opportunity,” Dever said. “These brothers and sisters in law enforcement and in  the community have bridged the gap of communication to come together and make this happen. Not one person did it.

It may have started with an idea from the Marshal’s office, but without the cooperation and collaboration of all these entities, it would not be a success.”