Jackson police officers giving away free hams to local families

Police officers and a local company are helping Jackson families get a ham on the table this holiday season. The Jackson Police Department's second annual Ham Drive-Thru event is happening Wednesday, Dec. 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Jackson County Fairgrounds.

400 hams are being donated by Garcia Laboratory. The Jackson-based medical laboratory company is working with the police department to distribute them to families in need. No prior sign up is necessary and the hams are free. Participants are asked to stay in their vehicles, entering the fairgrounds using the N. Blackstone Street entrance and driving through the parking lot to the Ham Drive-Thru site. Jackson officers will be there to distribute the hams to local families. Drivers will exit the fairgrounds using the W. Ganson Street exit.

This special event is being organized through the police department's Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Strategy. GVI has local law enforcement and the community working together on direct solutions to reducing gun violence in Jackson. Coordinator Cheryl Ragland says the ham giveaway fits in with the program's message of community outreach. "Having enough food on the table for a family holiday is a big part of that," Ragland said. "With increasing food costs for families, we hope this will also alleviate some financial strain during the holiday season."

Hams will be available while supplies last. Only one ham will be given to each vehicle. The Jackson County Fairgrounds is located at 128 W. Ganson St. At an event in Nov., Jackson police worked with Walmart and an anonymous donor to distribute 500 free turkeys to residents ahead of Thanksgiving.