By Taylor Boyd
The Patrick County Sheriff’s Office’s 6th annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ project is currently underway.
Brian Hubbard, an investigator with the sheriff’s office, said the project that provides a Christmas experience to youngsters is completely funded by community donations.
“We bring underprivileged or unfortunate kids that maybe wouldn’t get a Christmas except for this. We bring them in, and we shop at Walmart in Stuart. They walk around with an officer, or a mentor and we do some shopping,” he said.
Hubbard estimated that the program spends around $125 per child, with a portion of the donated funds used to buy youngsters a meal after the shopping excursion.
While shopping, youngsters can buy whatever they want, including clothes, toys, painting supplies, and gifts for family members, Hubbard said.
“Hopefully, it helps them have a good Christmas,” he added.
There are enough funds on hand to pay for this year’s shopping event, according to Hubbard, who estimated about 60 youngsters will be helped.
However, he added that donations are still accepted.
Hubbard said donations that are received throughout the year help organizers prepare for both the number of youngsters that may be helped the following year and to have those funds on-hand.
“It helps us know how many kids we can help,” he said, adding the project raises between $6,000 to $9,000 each year.
While the officers and children could not participate in the shopping experience last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the traditional in-person shopping day is set for this year.
The in-person interaction and participating in the program is important for youngsters and law enforcement officers, Hubbard said.
“It’s a blessing for each officer that’s done it, and some of them have made life-time contacts or friends with the kids and families that they’ve helped,” Hubbard said. “They really enjoy getting to spend” the one-on-one time with youngsters and help the community in a different way.
Hubbard recalled that past participants still remember him and the experience, and he believes the program will continue to expand in future years.
“The donations keep coming in, and I believe the money will be there. The program would be so fortunate if it could keep growing,” he said.
In person donations are accepted at the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, or by mail to the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, P.O. Box 128 Stuart, VA, 24171. Write ‘Shop with a Cop’ on the memo line of the check or money order.
For more information, about donating or to learn how to nominate a child, call (276) 694-3161 and ask for Hubbard, message the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, or email bhubbard@sheriff.co.patrick.va.us.
