KINGWOOD — More than 45 children participated in Shop with a Cop at Walmart Sunday.
Each child was allowed to purchase up to $100 in gifts, according to Capt. J.H. Bryan, who was in charge of the program.
“When we first started Shop with a Cop, there wasn’t as many participants,” he said.
Bryan said the program started about seven years ago and has grown from a few children to over 45 this year.
Tara Cozad, front end coach at Walmart, and assistant manager Jenenessa Harrison set up drinks, cookies and candy canes for Santa to give out to the children.
Cozad said last year the stores managers chose not to participate in a gift exchange. She said instead, they donated $1,000 and adopted three families.
Bryan said donations from Walmart, nurses from the WVU Heart Institute and Terra Alta Towing helped fund this year’s event.
“Every year an anonymous donor donates $1,000,” he said.
Chief Deputy P. A. “Moe” Pritt said he and the other members of the Preston Sheriff’s Department enjoy Shop with a Cop.
“We started this because we didn’t feel we were doing enough for the community,” he said. “There’s a lot of good organizations that help kids and families. This is our contribution, albeit a small one in the scheme of things.”
Bryan remembered a heartfelt show of unselfishness from a past event.
“A 16-year-old girl bought $100 worth of groceries with her gift money,” he said. “It broke our hearts. We pitched in and gave her $100 and told her to buy something for herself.”
He said the teenager did this to help with groceries in her home.
“Everything we take for granted you see them (kids) come in and buy. Things like food and clothing,” Pritt said.
Money for Shop with a Cop comes from donations to the Preston County Deputy Sheriffs Association.
Officers participating in the event were Pritt, Bryan, corporals J.C. Farling, C.R. Cline W.T. McNair and M.A. Lewis, deputies N.T. Queen and J.T. Knotts and transport officer Craig Felton.
TWEET@DominionPostWV
