Murphy – The energy of early Saturday morning in the Murphy Elementary School gym was exactly what one would expect with a room filled with excited children.
Kids were ready to go shopping under the Shop With a Cop program after being treated to breakfast and paired up with a law enforcement buddy or volunteer chaperone. Thanks to donations from generous businesses, organizations and residents, the annual event – which brings an extra bit of joy to kids at Christmastime – was made possible once again.
Kids received a police escort to Walmart to began the exciting shopping spree of $150 per youngster. There were 75 children registered to participate this year.
There was no shortage of Walmart employees cheerfully awaiting the arrival of the children.”
It’s a wonderful feeling that we can help and be a part of this. It’s amazing what all of our heroes do by volunteering their time, efforts and monies and to choose Walmart to be a part of this, too,” store manager Lora Hill said. “We’re honored and blessed.”
The Grinch and Santa Claus were also on site. The Grinch appeared both friendly and cooperative.
“I do this because I love kids,” said the Grinch (aka Tracy Baker). “They’ve had the best time picking on me. It’s been very rewarding.”
Some folks unaware of why there were so many officers converging on Walmart appeared a bit surprised at the influx. Toy and other aisles were busy with kids reaching for shelf items and cops tapping prices into calculators as quickly as items entered the shopping cart.
A few law enforcement officers needed to rein in their young shopper to stay within their monetary limit. One officer was overheard telling his young shopping partner that he would not be able to purchase a gun as he asked for.
Many children wanted to buy items for other family members as well. Some items getting put into carts included Barbie dolls, action figures, bikes, clothing and candy.
Laughter and conversations were going back and forth between officer and child, just as the program hopes for. Some children were paired up with the same law enforcement officers they were with last year by request, indicating bonds were being formed between cops and kids.
When all the shopping was finished and the kids were back on their busses, they headed back to the gym led by another police escort with lights and sirens. Pizza was then provided for the hungry shoppers with funds from the Shop With a Cop program.
Kaitlyn Lowe, an employee of Walmart, was in the program herself as a child and remembers how good it made her feel. She has siblings in the program today.
“It made me feel good as a kid. I see all these volunteers, cops and Walmart employees helping, and it makes me smile,” she said. “I’ve seen cops even using some of their own money to help.”
Time-generous volunteers made and provided warm knit and crocheted hats and scarves for children needing them. Ann Lukens of Unaka is a five-year volunteer with the Shop With a Cop program.
”We would love to have more volunteers who can help make the hats so that every child can have one,” she said.
A lot of time and effort goes into organizing the event so it is successful for everyone involved. School Resource Officer Chelsey Manston said with a chuckle, “Working with kids is my favorite thing to do.”
She especially thanked Lukens, Murphy Police Chief Tim Lominac, Murphy assistant chief Ryan Cunningham and Andrews Police Chief Caleb Stiles for all they did to assist the program.
Cunningham wanted to especially thank volunteer Ray Aballo for all his hard work and dedication to Shop with a Cop as well as Chelsey Manston.
“Without them and the many other volunteers, this would not have been possible,” Cunningham said.
More than $11,000 was raised this year just for toys alone under the program. Santa was played by Walmart employee Josh Cordin of Murphy.