More than 200 elementary students from the public schools in Bradford and Union counties got an early start on Christmas as they participated in a shopping spree and made some new friends in the process as part of the newly named Holidays with Heroes event, which was held Dec. 17-18 at Walmart in Starke.
What was once known as Shop with a Cop, which began in 2005 as part of a Starke Police Department effort, is now coordinated by Bradford County Emergency Management Director Brad Witt and the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office as part of its Bradford Sheriff Charitable Foundation. Thanks to donations, 240 children from Bradford, Lake Butler, Lawtey and Starke elementary schools each got the chance to spend $125 as they shopped alongside members of law enforcement and other agencies.
“We are so thankful for the community,” Witt said. “When we do things like this, they stop up time and time again. We received so many donations and had so many people just eager to participate.”
Regarding the name change, Witt said, “You look around, and the cops are outnumbered now.”
That has been the case for years, as the Starke and Lawtey police departments and the Bradford and Union sheriff’s offices combined were unable to provide enough escorts for the number of children participating. Children find themselves shopping alongside personnel from various agencies, with the Florida Department of Corrections providing the bulk of the escorts.
Witt said you even have county commissioners and school-board members stepping in to help make children’s Christmas wishes come true.
“We’ve got all kinds of individuals coming out and participating in this,” Witt said. “It’s so much more than Shop with a Cop now.”
The intent is the same — to reward children who have a need, but who are doing the right things in school. School personnel are responsible for selecting the students who take part.
Three smiles tell you how fun Holidays with Heroes is. Andrew Johnson (center) of the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office shops with Bradford Elementary students Terri Faison (far left) and Andre Rivera.
“The teachers know these kids,” Witt said. “They know what their needs are and what their issues are and stuff like that.
“They did a wonderful job like they always do of sending us kids for this event.”
Some students know exactly what they want and lead their escorts to the aisles where they can find it. Others are almost overwhelmed as they look around and make decisions on what to get.
Whichever category the student falls in, you can almost be sure that he or she has a smile on their face.
“The most fun is just seeing the kids have a good time,” Witt said.
Amid all the law-enforcement and other personnel on site, you’d think the Grinch would lay low. However, he was there (courtesy of a costumed member of one of the participating agencies), getting pushed in a basket and stealing toys from other baskets.
It was all in fun, though, as he promptly returned the items, although some of the children were bold enough to take him to task for being so mean.
Witt admitted there are always some things that can go better the first time a new agency steps in to take control of something, as the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office has done with Holidays with Heroes. He said for the most part, though, it was an easy transition.
The credit for that goes to the Starke Police Department and Barry Warren.
“They laid the groundwork,” Witt said, adding, “We’re just proud to keep this great tradition going.”
In his 12 years in Bradford County, Witt missed participating in only one Shop with a Cop.
“It’s been something I’ve always looked forward to,” he said. “Now, to be a part of putting it on — it’s an honor and a privilege.”
Starke Elementary’s William Arenz (left) and escort Jessica Wadden of Florida State Prison have a bit of fun while shopping.Holidays with Heroes gets thumbs up from Lawtey Elementary’s Nova Corby (right), who’s shopping with Bradford County Fire Rescue’s David Weeks.Lake Butler Elementary students Raelynn Dobbs and Ramsey Kay Wallace are loading up their basket with the help of Eli Rogers of the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The shirts worn by the LBES students were provided courtesy of the school’s advisory committee and parent-teacher organization. The shirts are part of an effort to create a culture at LBES and tie into the school theme of, “Let’s Root for Each Other and Watch Each Other Grow!”Starke Elementary’s Chloee McKnight (right) and escort Gabriel Hyzer of Florida State Prison ponder whether an electric car is a possibility.Starke Elementary’s Massiah Merricks (left) leads the way, with his escort, Dawn McKinley of the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office, pushing his basket.Antonnia Judkins of Florida State Prison (left) looks on as Bradford Elementary’s Justin Owens tries on a Jurassic World Dominion mask.Bradford Elementary’s Justin Owens (left) looks over the different Jurassic World Dominion dinosaur masks with his escort, Antonnia Judkins of Florida State Prison.Bradford Elementary students Ella Rought (center) and Rosalia Cogan (far right) shows off some of the toys they picked out while shopping with Jana Bennett of the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office.Bradford Elementary’s Rosalia Cogan (left) has a thing or two to say to the Grinch about stealing presents.Lake Butler Elementary students Zayden Jones and Arylah Jones have fun watching Jennifer Amit of Union Correctional Instiution try out The Upside Down Challenge Game, which flips your vision upside down when you look through the viewer.Starke Elementary’s Bristol Hurst (right) enjoys shopping with Adrian Cannimore of Florida State Prison.Lawtey Elementary’s Dawson Castellese (right) shows off a gaming headset he selected with escort Greg Jackson of the Florida Forest Service.Starke Elementary’s Olivia Slayton (right) gets help trying on shoes from her escort, William Newton of the Florida Department of Corrections.Rick Robinson of Baker Correctional Institution follows his two shoppers, Bradford Elementary students Davi Silva (left) and Tymea Vega.Lake Butler Elementary’s Haven Hankerson (right) shows off a doll she picked out with her escort, Scott Konkel of the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office.Jacob Vandigo (left) of Union Correctional Institution helps Starke Elementary’s Mason Kapellan take inventory of his basket.Shaun Burgin (center) of the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office shops with Bradford Elementary students Aleina Crews (far left) and Cynthia Miller.Lawtey Elementary’s Tayvianna Albritton gives thought to which aisle she wants to lead escort Bradford County Emergency Management’s Noah Tinsler down.Lake Butler Elementary’s Bryson Mielke (left) and his escort, Cheyenne Whitesides of Reception and Medical Center, scan the shelves for that perfect toy.Starke Elementary’s Colton Chappell (right) has picked out an Adventure Falcon Roleplay set with his escort, Samantha Holt of Union Correctional Institution.Lake Butler Elementary’s Keon “Liam” Williams gets an assist from Florida State Prison’s Julie Beighley as he selects a toy.Starke Elementary’s Dakota Hurst (right) has picked out a unicorn with the help of escort Tiffany Herrin of Florida State Prison.Starke Elementary’s Jarvis Morabito (left) thinks about what item to pick from the shelves while being escorted by Mark Perkins of Baker Correctional Institution.Starke Elementary’s Allison Harper (right) is escorted by Celia Evans of Union Correctional Institution.Bradford Elementary students Alainah Rodriguez (left) and Nina Rought show off the T-shirts students received from the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office.Lake Butler Elementary students Delilah Light and Eli West enjoy a post-shopping meal at Subway with their escort, Greg Jackson of the Florida Forest Service.
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