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By Brian O’Shea, Plateau Daily News
Officers from the Highlands Police Department took over 30 children Christmas shopping at a Walmart in Franklin on Dec. 12 and 14 through the annual Shop With a Hero program, formally known as Shop With a Cop, said HPD Captain Leah McCall.
Caroline Cook, who spearheads fundraising efforts along with the Highlands Mountain Garden Club, said participating children are identified by teachers, churches, police officers, neighbors/friends, other concerned citizens and the families for the children. The number of children who participated from Highlands this year was 35.
HPD Officer Courtney Swanson keeps a tally on her phone and goods get added to the cart during Shop With a Hero.
“SWAC is a wonderful event that helps children realize that police are not the bad guys, many repeat SWAC children request the same officer and a bond is made,” said Cook. “This program helps give the child dignity and self-pride. Many have the need for clothing, shoes and necessities for the home. This also helps each child to learn the act of sharing by getting something for someone else with their SWAC money.”
Each child is given $200 to spend, which Cook said was increased from $100 last year due to inflation.
“The children are asked to buy something for themselves and something for someone else,” said Cook. “Then with the remaining funds the children may purchase anything they wish, including necessities for the home. Necessities were not allowed until few years ago.”
In addition to a holiday shopping spree, the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in Highlands provides coats, scarfs, gloves and hats to each of the Highlands SWAC children.
Pictured from left are Episcopal Church of Incarnation members Bill Reeves, Stephanie Reeves, Kelly Tandy, Caroline Cook, and Jane Chalker standing in front of the donated winter apparel in the parking lot of Walmart.
Incarnation member Jane Chalker was at Walmart to deliver the winter apparel and said the church has been involved with SWAC for several years.
Members of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation donated several racks worth of winter apparel to give to the kids during Shop With a Hero.
“The police and students used to come to the church after buying their presents and we would have a party and help wrap the gifts,” said Chalker. “We would also have coats, gloves, and hats for all the students there at the church. Last year after COVID, Incarnation had coats for the students and simply took them to the police station and they took care of getting them to the students. We would love to go back to the party at church!”
From left are HPD Officer Courtney Swanson and then Highlands Detective Andrea Holland (current HPD Chief) arriving at the Christmas party at Incarnation during SWAC in 2019.
Cook said Incarnation puts out a Christmas tree in Jones Hall at the church with paper ornaments on it for the members of the church to choose from. The ornament lets the person know the sex of the child and their sizes. Members then go out and buy a coat, scarf, hat and gloves for their child.
The items and the ornament are taken to the church for Chalker and others to pick up and have ready for the children at Walmart.
Highlands Police Chief Andrea Holland said this was one of the biggest years for Shop with a Hero, showing that there are still needy families, even in Highlands.
“We would like to extend a special thank you to the Highlands Episcopal Church of the Incarnation for donating funds and coats for each of the children,” said Holland. “We would also like to say thank you to the Highlands School Interact Club for providing funds and volunteers to assist with shopping. Finally, a big thank you to the community for your continued support; we could not do our jobs effectively without it!”
SWAH began 30 years ago by former Macon County Sherriff Robbie Holland and has grown since.
Cook said Shop With a Hero provides a positive holiday season for children throughout Macon County (not just Highlands) who would have little or no Christmas throughout Macon County.
Pictured at the top of the article are two Highlands Police Officers checking out the sporting goods section at Walmart with their Shop With a Hero kids.
More photos from Shop With a Hero
