FAIRMONT — There were plenty of police officers in the Walmart in Pembroke on Friday with a mission not to make an arrest, but to spread some holiday cheer.
Fairmont Police Chief Jon Edwards, officers under his command, volunteers and 13 lucky children participated in the department’s Shop With a Cop program. Money raised by the department and a Walmart Community Grant allowed the officers to take local children who might otherwise not receive much for Christmas on a shopping spree.
Each child had about $140 to spend on whatever he or she wanted. Each child had a police officer or a volunteer helping them shop and to ensure sure the child stayed within budget.
Judging by the expression on the children’s faces as they roamed through the store’s aisles, there seemed to be a bit of doubt that they could actually take what they wanted off of the store shelves, Edwards said.
But the doubts soon faded.
Omaury Hunt, 11, of Fairmont, had his eyes on Pokemon toys, which he said are his favorite.
“They know exactly what they want,” said Capt. William Davis, who was helping Hunt shop.
Hunt’s sister, 10-year-old Kimora Alford, was a bit more creative when it came to her shopping.
“I got some crafting items and one outfit, and I got my daddy a shirt,” she said.
Amy Miller, a volunteer with the Police Department, helped Alford and Nakenya Moore, 11, do their shopping, and they spent more time looking at clothes than toys.
“I think they are shocked that they can get whatever they want,” Miller said.
Moore was happy she was able to have a decision in what to get.
“I like doing this because I’m getting older and I can pick out what I want,” she said. “My mom doesn’t know what I like, so it’s good to shop for yourself.”
It was all about cars for Kiante Moody, 7. With the help of Officer Ryan Gibson, Moody picked out a variety of toy cars.
Edwards, who has participated in the program for the past three years, said most of the time the children don’t want to get something just for themselves. They want to get something for everyone in their families.
Jaizere Buchanan, 10, did just that.
“I’m getting my mom a coffee cup, some toys for myself, and I got my little brother something,” he said.
Fairmont Commissioner Monte McCallum drove the bus that carried the children to the store.
“It’s a good initiative and it helps the kids out,” McCallum said. “It brings a lot of smiles and joy to the kids, and I appreciate the police department for doing this.”
When children who would often not get Christmas gifts get the opportunity to get the gifts they want through the Shop With a Cop program, it allows them to experience what Christmas is all about, Edwards said.
“I enjoy watching the kids’ excitement when they get what they want,” he said. “I like to see the look on their faces.”
One of the program’s goals is also to build relationships between police officers and children in the community.
Walmart teams with other local departments as well, including Lumberton and Pembroke’s. Pembroke officers will take children shopping on Saturday.
