Flagler County, FL (December 12, 2021) It was the first holiday season under the “Shop with a Cop” banner for members of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the children taking part in 2021’s shopping extravaganza, but as things change over time they inevitably get even better.
Forming the Flagler Sheriff’s Children’s Charities, the nonprofit arm of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was able to treat more than 125 children to a shopping spree on Friday night, drawing tears of joy from Wal-Mart Super Center team leaders as they opened their doors and arms to welcome the children for the holiday event.
Dressed as holiday elves, Amanda Shields, grocery team lead and department manager Christa Shakir, joined store lead Courtney McIntyre, to greet the kids and their law enforcement shopping buddies as they arrived, after preparing for the big event all week.
“I think it’s a fantastic event. We have tried to stock the shelves as much as possible to make sure that these kids have everything that they want when they come in here,” said Shields enthusiastically. “My other half is actually a deputy here, so she’ll be here later. She’s done it every year, 8 years running.”
This is the second year the children have had the opportunity to shop at Wal-Mart, and McIntyre’s first year hosting the event.
“This is actually my first year to be able to do this with the kids so I’m very excited,” she said. “We’ve just come together all week making sure we had as much merchandise (as possible) available for them. Everybody’s come together prepping, decorating and the spirit has been high getting ready for the kids to come.”
Going all out, in addition to stocking the shelves, employees created a special place for the kids and their law enforcement member to spend time with Santa in the garden center. The alcove featured a sprawling sofa set with hundreds of poinsettias and holiday lights for a picture perfect moment with The Big Guy, before they headed off to enjoy dinner at festively decorated tables.
“It was a very successful event. We started in Town Center at the Chiumento Law firm where we had games, all kinds of group activities,” said Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Commander Lou Micelli, who says the local partnerships are a lynchpin of the program.
“It is very important, it wouldn’t happen without the two of them. Wal-Mart has done an awesome job. They really stepped up this year. I spoke to Janet Baldwin who is the GM of the store here and she welcomed us with open arms. They are awesome. What they did in the garden center is amazing.”
Chiumento Law was happy to continue being a meaningful part of the children’s holiday event, as well.
“For 8 years the people in our law firm have been supporting (the) shop with a cop program. We love to see the kids interacting with law enforcement in such a positive way,” said Michael Chiumento.
For The Kids
Kimberlee Ferreira stood on the sidelines and waited eagerly for her son Bruno to arrive.
It’s not every day a person is excited about being picked up by law enforcement, but in this case, it was for all the right reasons.
As his second time being selected for the program, Kimberlee sees it as a way for Flagler’s youth and law enforcement to build trust and relationships within the community.
“It’s a really good program for the kids and they look forward to it,” she said as her son arrived with Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jesse O’Neill. “I try to teach my sons to be respectful and I think that this is another way to teach your kids not to be scared of them. It’s a beautiful thing for these kids.”
Stretching the dollars even further, buggies were quickly filled up with wish lists and shelves were laid bare as giant unicorns and other stuffed animals, popular LOL Dolls, Lalaloopsy Littles, and Star Belly Dream Lites, Mandalorian Star Wars plushies, drones, skateboards, Nerf toys, Hot Wheels race tracks, baby dolls, board games, and all kinds of other toys were snapped up by the kids.
For several of the boys, the hot ticket item was Pokémon, and 9-year old Dexter felt lucky to have both a Pokémon TCG Alakazam V Box, and the Akedo Ultimate Battle Arena handheld arcade game in his shopping cart.
Dexter was speechless when he learned he was selected to Shop with a Cop. The entire experience filled him with excitement.
“We went to a party and played all these fun games and then we got back into the cop cars and drove all the way here,” he explained. “Then we got all this free stuff. I was like … uh, uh, uh.”
To say it made his day would be an understatement according to his mom Lauren.
“It was amazing. I couldn’t believe everything that they do for them. Words can’t describe, it’s awesome,” said Lauren. “It’s extremely helpful. I wouldn’t have been able to do all that. With three kids, it’s hard to do.”
“He was so excited he was singing in the shower this morning before school. He’s been talking about it for days. It was the coolest thing ever to be able to do this and experience it all,” she said.
Making It Happen
Money doesn’t grow on trees, and as a new program, it was through donations from the men and women of the Flagler Sheriff’s Office that more than half the funds raised for the Shop with a Cop program were made available.
Other donations came in from private and business donors along with clubs and civic organizations like the recent $2,000 donation from the 9/11 Memorial Ride hosted by the retired firefighters Knights of the Inferno Motorcycle Club and The Punishers Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club.
“We have 125 kids that might not otherwise have Christmas that our deputies and other law enforcement agencies are taking shopping at Wal-Mart. We really appreciate the partnership with Wal-Mart and our other law enforcement agencies. Our deputies raised almost $16,000 in payroll deduction to support this. They volunteered all their time here tonight, and we had community support too, so we raised well over $25,000,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly with gratitude.
Ready to help the children have a happy holiday, members of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Flagler Beach Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol and Bunnell Police Department were all on hand to ensure it was a night the kids would never forget.
C.O.P. Pam Muller has participated in the shopping experience for children over the years and says she receives joy from seeing the happiness on the children’s faces each and every year.
“This is the third time I’ve gotten to do it and it is awesome,” she said. “These kids’ faces light up and they get to choose whatever they want. It makes me feel very humble and blessed.”
