With businesses and schools closed during the pandemic, the children who live Coconut Creek didn’t have many options to celebrate their birthdays. So the Coconut Creek Police Department decided to do something about it. The city started the Birthday Responders program to make these children’s birthdays special despite social distancing. Officers turned on their lights and sirens for exciting caravans, took pictures, gave the children goody bags with pens, stickers, wristbands and other toys, and congratulated the birthday kids—all while practicing social distancing. The Birthday Responders gave joy to 104 children in April and was so successful it was extended through May when they reached more than 200 celebrated. Photos courtesy of Scotty Leamon
