Joy of Christmas

Youngsters exhibited the best of the holiday spirit Friday morning as they chose gifts for their siblings or other family members rather than themselves during the annual Shop with a Cop outing at the Alma Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Ashley Bruce, 15, opted to spend $33.37 of her $60 shopping allotment to choose an Interactive Caterpillar Rocker for her six-month-old niece, Rachel.

The generosity is touching considering Shirley Bruce’s monthly income is $800 for her family which includes four children ages 9, 16, two 15-year-olds and her infant grandchild, the daughter of a 15-year-old.

“This year, being able to come here at the invitation of the police means a lot. It has been a tight year because I helped my sister a lot,” Shirley Bruce said.

One group of four siblings purchased gifts for one another so they would be surprised on Christmas rather than selecting gifts for themselves.

“It is always great that the folks in the local store care so much and that the police give so much that children give thank you cards. Even though they may be underprivileged they think of others,” said Wal-Mart operations manager Stan Beard. “It is amazing how giving these children are even when they have nothing. If the adults of this world would come see this it would be a better place.”

Upon arrival at the check-in desk, a sealed card addressed to the police was handed to a Wal-Mart corporate executive. Inside, in a cryptic child’s handwriting, the message spoke volumes, “Thank you police for all thise presents. You are our heroes.” The card was signed by Andy and Cesar Lopez.

The Van Buren Fraternal Order of Police sponsor the shopping event each year for underprivileged children with donations from generous community benefactors.

Det. Sgt. Steve Weaver who spearheads the event declared the event “wonderful,” although 10 of the 230 youngsters did not show up.

“It ran smoothly. The community really supported us this year. We are looking forward to next year,” Weaver said.

Children arrived squirming with delight while their accompanying parents or grandparents were grateful for the gift-selection opportunity.

Rebecca Geurin’s children, age 9 and 11, chose clothes and shoes and one game each. A first-time recipient of the police officers’ generosity, the mom was grateful her children would have gifts.

Zackary Risenhoover, 4, flitted from toy to toy, in search of the perfect gift. J.J. Izard Elementary submitted the family’s name. Zackary and his two siblings’ mom is single for the first time this Christmas.

Violet Merideth of Van Buren has been the custodian of her daughter’s three children for almost four years, she said between repeatedly telling her granddaughters their shopping money was gone. She wipes at a wayward tear falling over faded lashes. The girls, ages 4 and 7; and their 8-year-old brother, have different fathers. Their mother lives in Fayetteville. Merideth receives no child support for the children. Joe-Joe, the grandson, cannot spell his last name, but he was determined to spend a portion of his money on a car one of his sisters wanted.

“No, Joe-Joe, you need to spend the money on what you want,” Merideth patiently explained.

“My other daughter is here with her three children. She gets a check for $116 a month from the daddy of one of her children. It makes things easier for her,” she said with sadness in her voice.

The joy of the shopping excursion is apparent on Lisa Brewer’s face.

A first-time Shop with a Cop invitee, she is grateful.

“I wasn’t going to be able to get much this year. Their grandpa usually helps me out but he is unfortunate this year, too,” she said.

Daughters Kayla, 11, Shania, 9, and Jessica, 8, carefully chose wearing apparel and one inexpensive toy.

The shopping experience enlightened Brooke Hoffsommer and Connor Petray, both 11, the children of Cpl. Chris Hoffsommer and Sgt. Frank Petray, respectively.

Both accompanied their fathers in helping other children choose Christmas gifts.

“I think the police need to do this more often,” said Brooke Hoffsommer. “After we leave here, my Dad and I have to drop off two bikes. One of the kids picked out a bike but he said he couldn’t get it home because it wouldn’t fit in their car but my Dad said he would deliver it.”

“This made me sad but happy about what I have compared to what other people have,” Connor Petray said.

Comments are closed.