Working hard to make Officer Ozzie proud. Less than two months after the deaths of beloved retired Haverhill Police Officer Osmond R. “Ozzie” Hardy and his wife Gayle Hardy, their family is ready to continue the charity effort they founded together called Ozzie’s Kids, with the first of two fundraisers this summer, daughter Khristina Hardy tells WHAV.
On June 22, Khristina is spearheading the first of several fundraising efforts for Ozzie’s Kids’ annual Christmas celebration when she hosts an adults’ only bingo night. Tickets are already spoken for, but other events are in the works in coming months, she said.
Later this summer, Ozzie’s Kids is fanning out throughout Haverhill on Aug. 31 for a tag day to collect monetary donations.
A 30-year member of the Haverhill Police Department, Hardy retired in 2011 to devote his efforts to Ozzie’s Kids full time. As Mayor James J. Fiorentini reminisced with WHAV after Hardy’s April 10 death, the first responder worked year-round to brighten the day for children and families struck by tragedy or those down on their luck.
“Ozzie was the real Santa Claus to hundreds of Haverhill families every year,” Fiorentini said. “He provided presents to them, joy and love. He was an amazing man.”
The annual Ozzie’s Kids holiday toy drive is expected to begin shortly before the holidays.