Looking for a meaningful way to teach your kids about kindness to police and gratitude in action?
Showing appreciation to your local officers is a great place to start. These men and women work hard to protect our communities, often behind the scenes and without much recognition. A small act of kindness can go a long way in encouraging and uplifting them.
If you’re a family looking to make a difference, here are 15 simple and thoughtful ways you can show kindness to the officers in your community.
Random Acts of Kindness for Police Officers
1. Drop Off Snacks
Bring individually wrapped snacks like trail mix, granola bars, or chips to the police station for officers to enjoy during their shifts.
2. Write Thank-You Cards
Sit down as a family and write heartfelt thank-you notes. Even a few kind words can mean a lot.
3. Bake Some Treats
Homemade cookies, muffins, or brownies are always appreciated. Be sure to package them neatly and label any allergens.
4. Draw Pictures
Younger kids can draw pictures for the officers—these often end up on bulletin boards or walls at the station.
5. Take Coffee Gift Cards
Pick up a few gift cards from local coffee shops and deliver them with a thank-you note.
6. Offer to Pray
Let officers know your family is praying for their safety. You can even ask if they have specific requests.
7. Share Scripture Cards
Print or handwrite encouraging Bible verses and package them nicely with ribbon or a small envelope.
8. Buy Lunch or Pizza
Call ahead and have lunch delivered to the station with a note that says, “Thanks for all you do!”
9. Appreciation Jars
Fill a jar with short notes of encouragement or quotes that officers can pull out when they need a boost.
10. Small Practical Gifts
Bring in simple, practical items like hand sanitizer, lip balm, or first-aid kits with a note of thanks.
11. Holiday Treat Bags
Include officers in your holiday traditions by dropping off treat bags during Christmas, Easter, or even the Fourth of July.
12. Send a Letter to City Officials
Write to your mayor, city council, or police chief expressing your appreciation for the department’s service.
13. Paint Kindness Rocks
Decorate rocks with positive messages and leave them outside the station as a cheerful surprise.
14. Record a Thank-You Video
Make a short video of your family thanking the officers and send it to the department’s public email.
15. Take a Potted Plant
Add a little life to their front desk or break room with a cheerful plant and a tag that says “Thank you for helping our community grow!”
Showing kindness doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, the most meaningful gestures are often the simplest. When families take time to recognize the work of their local police officers, it not only blesses the officers but also teaches children the value of gratitude, service, and community. So gather your crew and pick an idea or two—you might be surprised by how much joy you’ll spread.
(((((Hugs))))) to you sweet friend and thank you for all you do by supporting a police officer. My homeschool group recently visited a police department. They gave the kids a tour and answers questions for them. But we had spend a day before that preparing goodie bags for all the police officers in our area which included five police departments and about 100 police officers. I am so glad my children got to be apart of this and experience loving police officers in days that police officers are made out to be the bad guy so often. Thank you to your husband as well.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! And thank you for sharing your story – I absolutely love to hear about good deeds like that 🙂 That must have been such a wonderful experience for them (and for you!)
My significant other is a LEO and he shows several acts of kindness every shift. He plays basketball with local kids at the park or “jumps” the dirt ramp that local kids made on a bike. He loves spending time with the local kids. Just recently the department he was working at was disbanded due to false accusations and all of his blue brothers and sisters would do anything for their community. Say a prayer for them all! 🙂
As a LEO daughter, I have the honor of owning my dad’s scrapbook. In it is one letter that stands out. It is a thank you letter from a couple who were visiting my hometown. Unfortunately, at the time, they were in an automobile accident. Thank God, neither one was hurt, but their car suffered enough damage to make it inoperable until it was fixed. My dad was the responding officer to the accident and when he found out that they were on vacation and that their car would be in for repairs for several days, he decided then and there that their vacation was to continue. He gave them the keys to our personal car and told them to enjoy the rest of their vacation. Years later, I still look at that letter and beam with pride! I know that the majority of all our LEOs are just like this. They may wear a metal badge, but underneath is a heart of pure gold.
Leah and Sarah: I am a recently retired “LEO” from Chicago and I truly appreciate this article. One random act I personally tell citizens is to spread positive information to combat the negative information about LEOs. The truth is there are more good cops out there than bad. Many, many good deeds are performed on a daily basis by cops that are above and beyond that which is required of them, and it always goes unnoticed. If citizens, especially those in underprivileged neighborhoods, were to spread the word about a good deed they’d seen or experienced it would help immensely! Community leaders, pastors and teachers who encourage supporting LEOs can really help. It’s disheartening, and frightening, to hear community leaders who talk negatively about cops. If a teacher or pastor would invite their local beat officer to come in and talk to their students, congregation or community, in an open communication forum, I believe it would help. The public needs to see their police officer as a human being with families and dreams and similar problems. It is the criminal element of society that is propagating negativity about the police and all too often the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Another step citizens can take is to support legislation that takes stronger legal measures against those who threaten or harm a police officer. In Chicago recently there have been attacks on cops who were off duty, some who were in their private vehicles and were followed home from the police station after work. If you live next door to an “LEO” pay attention to his/her home, property, pets and family. Cops work crazy shifts. Bad guys have been known to find out LEOs home addresses. I’m sorry if that sounds scary, but unfortunately, it’s a real threat. Just as you’d do for any other neighbor, report suspicious activity or people around the LEO’s home and be sure to tell the 911 operator it’s an LEO’s home. I’m not keen on the blue porch lights or blue ribbons to show support for the police. Some bad guys associate those blue lights and ribbons with homes of police officers. Finally, don’t be offended by an LEO’s standoffish personality. Cops often stay to themselves or only associate with other cops and don’t seem very friendly. Say hello anyway. LEOs experience things that human beings weren’t wired to experience. It eats away at one’s humanity. After 911 when citizens would come up and thank me for my service, well, it honestly just rocked my thin blue line. Don’t hesitate to say it. Sorry for the long post; I don’t see pro-police discussions so it was hard to keep it short. Thank-you!
My husband is a sergeant in the motorcycle unit and he takes the cycle to community events and lets kids (and even some adults) sit on it for pictures and play with the lights. Everyone gets a kick out of it and there are always big smiles.
I’m the sister of an officer killed in the line of duty. I came across your site while looking for ways in which to bless our local officers. I know firsthand the daily stress, long hours, court appearances on personal time and danger these brave men and women face. Thanks for your ideas and efforts to support them. I’m buying bagels and cream cheese to take to the station. Hopefully, the protesters will let us pass. I’m feeling nervous, but determined NOT to be deterred.
Oh Michelle, I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for sharing. Please don’t be hindered; stand tall, stand firm, stand strong – for your brother and all of the other officers that risk their lives everyday! You are a blessing.
Hi! I love this article. I live in a small town, where I know many of the law enforcement. They are wonderful people, and I have tried very hard to teach my daughter’s that police officers are people. Not bad people, not people drunk with power, or people who think they are above the law. But instead, these are people that leave home everyday and never know how dangerous their day will be or if they will make it home. They work hard to protect and serve the community, and they certainly are not doing it for the money they make, they do it because they have the calling. Sadly in today’s time that is something that is not being taught to most children. Yes, their are some bad officers throughout that world. But that is the same as every other profession. Their are nurses who care nothing about people and should not be nurses. As are their teachers who are not kind for children and do want the paychecks and summers off. Yet for some reason, some of our finest have gotten the bad rap. My daughter and I are about to make some necklaces to send to our local police officers. I’m not sure if they can hang them in their vehicles or not. But I wanted to make something that when they day got quiet for a moment, and they are feeling the weight of the world, they can look at it and know that their are people who are thankful for them, and care. They will have a cross for protection, a flag for our country, and a charm of a child for the difference they are trying to make on our community. It’s hard to think of gifts to give them when they sadly always have to look over their shoulders.