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Kids getting Christmas, thanks to police

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Seven needy children will have lots of gifts under the Christmas tree this year, thanks to the Fayetteville Police Department and several local businesses who participated in the city’s first annual “Shop with a Cop” program.

Several businesses and local organizations including the Civitan Club of Fayette County, the Kiwanis Club of Fayette County and police officers opened up their hearts and wallets to ensure two families had a Christmas.

Twenty-one local businesses and organizations lined up to donate, officials said.

Officers Lindsay Harwell and David Webb began organizing the event in November. “There were so many people willing to help, it was almost overwhelming,” Harwell said.

The children were selectively chosen, and each child ages 9 to 18 received $150 to buy Christmas presents.

“The detectives looked into it and found out they were in a bad situation and we just wanted to help them out,” FPD spokeswoman Lt. Beverly Trainor said. “These are two families who will be back on their feet and they will give back to this project next year.”

Employees of the police department accompanied the children and their parents on the shopping spree Dec. 4 and later helped them wrap the presents. Many of the children bought for themselves and their parents and siblings, officials said.

One 9-year-old girl who had a severe vision impairment touched the hearts of the officers so much they decided to dig deeper into their pockets to make her Christmas wish come true.

The 9-year-old wanted a hand-held tiny dvd player that played kid-friendly shows. The player was a perfect fit for her, but purchasing it would cut deep into her allotted finances.

“[The hand-held video player costs] $75, so the officers chipped in and bought it for her,” Trainor said.

Helping out were Chick-Fil-A Dwarf House, Fayetteville Bowling Center, Old Navy, Wal-Mart, Movies 10, Kroger, Banks Crossing, Publix, Fayette Pavilion, PeachState Airport, Belk, Barnstormer’s Grill, J&R Clothing, Fayette Mower, Kohl’s, Fayetteville City Hall, Best Buy, Tinsel Town, HH Gregg, Independence of Praise Church, Bath and Body Works, Civitan Club of Fayette County and Kiwanis Club of Fayette County.