Shop with a Gainesville Cop returned to the Walmart store on Shallowford Road this afternoon after skipping 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This heartwarming event pairs officers in the Gainesville Police Department with local families in need for an afternoon of shopping.
While local businesses provide a certain amount of money for the shopping, Lieutenant Kevin Holbrook said the event often convinces police officers to open their own pockets for donations.
"It's one of those that typically before the event is done with the officers end up forking over their debit cards or credit cards and pitching in to help," said Holbrook.
Holbrook said the department worked with Gainesville City Schools to select 25 families to participate. Businesses that donated money for shopping include Walmart and Pilgrim's Pride, as well as Fish Tales and Pig Tales restaurants.
"Two hundred [dollars] is what we start with for each kid and then as the day goes on and the shopping progresses, we typically add more to that," said Holbrook. "Again, it's one of those where we have so much money in the piggy bank but at the end of the day it is heartfelt because you see these officers open up their pockets or their purses to assist as well."
Families are allowed to purchase anything they want within the store- within reason of course. Most kids at the event this afternoon started in either electronics or toys, then worked their way to the clothing section at the insistance of their parents.
Around the store officers could be spotted pushing Walmart buggies as children stopped and pointed to an item they were interested in, often needing the officer's help to lift it from a higher shelf.
Holbrook said kids often pick out items that the average person takes for granted.
"The tears start rolling when you see the kids that want to go to the grocery side and pick out groceries because unfortunately for many of the kids, the food they receive is within the school system," said Holbrook.
Between 30 to 40 officers from different divisions were expected to come out for the event, according to Holbrook. He said they look forward to it each year.
"It helps them because we do have those stressful-type jobs and this is one of those where they can kind of let that stress decompress and go have some fun," said Holbrook.
The shopping kicked off at 3 p.m. and wrapped up with the last check out around 4:15 p.m.
