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Law enforcement, Optimist Club team up to help area kids
At 8 a.m. Saturday morning local law enforcement responded to a call from the Christmas Spirit.
Gainesville, Gainesville ISD, Valley View, Texas DPS, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Oak Ridge and other law enforcement agencies were called to the 1800 block of Lawrence Street, the location of Wal-Mart Supercenter, for the seventh installment of Shop with a Cop.
The Optimist Club funds the Shop with a Cop program by providing 10 area children each with $100 for them to spend for Christmas.
Local law enforcement representatives and Abigail’s Arms volunteers shopped with the children at Wal-Mart . All of the children brought Christmas lists with items they wished to purchase.
Optimist Club member Jim Carter, who also represents the County Sheriff’s Office, has had a hand in organizing this event every year.
He said many disadvantaged children and their families in the area do not have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas every year, so Shop with a Cop allows these children to have a happy holiday season.
While giving 10 children that chance is great, Carter said he wishes the Optimist Club was able to provide for more children.
“That’s our only regret, is that we don’t have enough funds to do this for more children,” he said.
The children, local law enforcement, members of the Optimist Club and Abigail’s Arms volunteers ventured to the VFW where all had breakfast, which was cooked by the members of the Optimist Club.
After breakfast, the shopping began as local law enforcement, the volunteers and the 10 children went to Wal-Mart.
“The whole purpose of it is to (show) police officers in a positive light to these children,” Carter said.
Sometimes, these children only see police officers in a negative light, showing up late at night to one of their houses in response to a call, Carter added.
Some of the children had lists to buy things not only for themselves, but for other members of their family.
“The majority of them think of their parents and siblings as well,” Carter said, “and that’s heart-warming.”
Abigail’s Arms Victims’ Rights Coordinator Stefani Wallace, who helps select the 10 children for the program, said it’s neat to see these children show selflessness.
“They usually have their lists ready, so they’ve got everybody something,” Wallace said, “but then the rest is spent on them. It’s pretty even. The older ones normally tend to go for the movies, video games, the electronics stuff. The younger ones normally head to the toys.”
For confidentiality purposes, the full names of the children are not released to the public, nor is the selection process. Children eligible range between five and 18 years old.
“They’re a unique group of kids that we choose as a staff that we feel they have the need for Christmas (and) that they need help,” she said.
Letting these children know someone is looking out for them is another reason these organizations get together for Shop with a Cop each year.
“(We hope) they know that somebody out there is concerned about their welfare,” Wallace said, “and to make sure they have a good Christmas.”
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