East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputies adopted the Lee family for Christmas after noticing their need for assistance this year during regular patrols. Mother, Pauline, and her two children, Chelsea, 8, and Isiah, 2, were showered with gifts, food and furniture yesterday morning.

Deputies with the Scotlandville substation, along with donations from a few local vendors, provided the family with food, a sofa, a television, toys, clothes, a bed, a Christmas tree and bikes. Tuesday evening, deputies went to the Lee’s apartment on Hanks Drive and put up and decorated a Christmas tree. They had a bed for the children, a television and table delivered as well. Wednesday morning, a crew of deputies came to deliver a sofa, Christmas food, presents and clothes for the family.

Captain Fredrick Thomas, commander of the Scotlandville substation, said that he knows the names of most of the children and parents in the area after years of patroling. He said he and his deputies saw the great need that the Lee family had and wanted to do something to help.

Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said he is proud of his deputies.

“They have the true spirit of Christmas,” Sheriff Gautreaux said. “This is exactly how law enforcement should be. They don’t just patrol the community, they are invested in the community. They truly care about the people they are serving.”

In addition to adopting the Lee family, Scotlandville deputies gave out presents to other area children. Deputies also helped deliver toys as part of the Sheriff’s Office and Constable’s Office Christmas Crusade for Children.  The Crusade delivered toys to approximately 3,000 children in need this Christmas season.