Murphy The local Walmart saw a little police action Saturday morning, as numerous law enforcement officers proceeded through the store’s front doors with the intent to make Christmas special for some great local kids.
The day began earlier that morning at Murphy Elementary School, as cops and kids were paired up to go Christmas shopping after their provided breakfast. Lunch would be served later in the day, after the shopping was done. Once the teams were established, they proceeded to the Walmart store.
Children in grades K-5 rode over in two separate buses as law enforcement from multiple departments escorted the buses with lights and sirens the entire way. The sounds could be heard down the road before they ever pulled into the store parking lot.
Walmart employees lined up outside to welcome everyone with smiles and cheerful waving.
“It is wonderful,” Walmart manager Lora Chattin said. “It’s heartwarming to be such a part of it, and we’re truly blessed that we can help.”
The children, once off the buses grabbed shopping carts and their police officer buddies and hit the aisles for some serious Christmas shopping. Several of the children also picked up gifts for family members.
A first-time volunteer was found shopping with his little partner.
“I’m a little bit overwhelmed as my wife always did the shopping with our kids. I’m tickled to death to be doing this,” Reggie Pendley said.
The program is geared towards lower income kids and provides a wonderful opportunity for everyone to interact in a positive way. A few of the children even asked to be paired with the same cop they were with the previous year which appeared to indicate a bonding between cop and kid.
Carts were being filled up as store shelves lost their battle to keep their items. Law enforcement officers did the heavy lifting for the children, and everyone appeared to be happy.
Calculators were adding up totals as quickly as kids could pick their desired items. Each child would receive $150 to spend as the wanted.
Volunteers Brian and Becky Costello came out to assist.
“It’s a great opportunity to come out and help children that need help,” Becky said. Brian added, “It’s gonna be fun. I’ll probably have more fun than the kids will.”
Onlookers unaware of what was going on appeared surprised by the influx of cops, kids and the happy chaos.
Just some of the items chosen to make it back home with the kids included skateboards, fun pillows, dollhouses, make-up and nail polish, foam-firing guns, action figures and toy kitchen sets.
Murphy Mayor Tim Radford and a volunteer had a child with them as well. When asked where his kid was Mayor Radford jokingly said, “I think I lost him.
It was evident that he was kidding, as his laughter gave him away.
Sgt. Chastain with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has been doing Shop With a Cop for three years and said, “I really enjoy it and think it’s a good idea for law enforcement to interact with the kids. It does my heart good. I love spending my time taking them out to have a good time. I enjoy spending part of their Christmas with them.”
Officer Fletcher with the Murphy Police Department was a big part of helping to organize this year’s event which continues to grow. Last year, there were about 60 kids in the program, and this year there were about 70. No child was turned away due to generous donations that help fund the program.
Some of those that volunteered included civilians, fire departments, emergency personnel, and cops from Murphy, Andrews, Cherokee County, as well as school resource officers, wildlife officers, troopers, detention and probation officers. It was a real team effort.