December is the month for Shop With A Cop. Macon County police officers take children who would have little or no Christmas to Walmart. Each child is given a $200 gift card.
SWAC was started in Macon County over 30 years ago. The children were to purchase a gift for themselves and a gift for someone else. However, children may now purchase gifts, along with necessities for the home, water, food, paper supplies, appliances to make warm meals – the list goes on.
This year it’s felt that most of the children will be buying necessities for the home because of the government shutdown, inflation and food insecurities being at an all-time high in Macon County.
SWAC makes a long-lasting impression on the children who participate in the program. Many of these children Shop With ‘their cop’ more than once. This helps create a bond between the officers and “their SWAC children.” SWAC provides the knowledge that cops are not the bad guys for children whose family members have been incarcerated or had other bad experiences with law enforcement.
One year, a new officer in Franklin participated in every event for SWAC. Former Sheriff Robbie Holland was so impressed and told the officer this. The officer replied to the Sheriff, “you don’t realize it, but I was one of the children you took shopping.”
Many of the officers bring their own children on the night the shopping trip occurs. These children help SWAC kids shop and create a bond between them. There are many officers’ children who love the program so much that if the shopping happens when they have an event for themselves that evening, they will give up their plans to participate in this program to help children.
Donations are needed to help children who would have little or no Christmas. Also, to help those who need necessities for the home to acquire them.
Please consider donating to help children to have a Merry Christmas. Please send your donations to: Caroline Cook, P. O. Box 2785, Highlands, NC 28741 or drop a check by Highlands Police Department. Make checks out to Shop With A Cop or SWAC. Donations are tax deductible.
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