Christmas came early for some children in Habersham County this year thanks to Santa Cops and their Firefighter Elves. The men in blue descended on Walmart in Cornelia last week to make children’s Christmas wishes come true. Several of them were walking through the store, holding hands and talking with small children. Some were pushing shopping carts with lots of toys inside and some were checking off the items on Christmas “wish lists.” Adults looked on with pride.
The City of Baldwin’s Police Chief, Fire Chief, and other emergency personnel had been called in to allow Baldwin families with children to “shop with a cop” for Christmas. All of the families had “special financial needs” this year, and the adults couldn’t be giving their children the type of Christmas they wanted, without the financial help of the Baldwin police and fire departments. Selection of the families was overseen by Saresa Garrett, Counselor at Baldwin Elementary School, who wore a Santa cap as she walked with families through the store.
One of those adults in those families was Ashley, who brought three children with her. Ashley’s sister-in-law, Autumn Wade, recently was the subject of news stories about the tragic “flash fire” in White County that brought about her death. “Everything went to funeral costs,” she said of the extended family’s expenses. Now, “there are nine people living with our in-laws.”
“They’re angels,” she said of the men in uniform, shopping with the children for clothing and Christmas treasures – to be paid for at checkout counter number eighteen, with funds raised by the fire and police departments.
“This should be known to everybody – what they’re doing,” she added.
The police department raised funds with a car show held in October, and with donations from “anonymous, caring donors,” said Police Chief Chad Nichols. Fire Chief Joe Roy and his department participated for the first time this year, Nichols said, with community sales of pork roasts.
In all, more than $2,600 was raised and spent on Christmas gifts for eight children who, otherwise, would have been without.
Chief Nichols said that part of the motto of police departments is “to protect” and the other part is “to serve.”
“This,” he said, gesturing toward checkout counter eighteen – peopled with children, their families, policemen and firefighters pushing shopping carts holding bicycles, Spiderman socks, stuffed puppies, and blue jeans – “this is what I see as ‘serving.'”
Santa Cops
Cornelia, GA
December 10, 2015
Photos by A.N. Williams
click to enlarge
