‘To me this is Christmas,’ Harrison says about W’burg Shop with a Cop

“To see these kids, smile … When I told the first group that they had $100 a piece their eyes lit up like crazy. I know $100 doesn’t go like it used too, but to them it is a big deal. I am just tickled to death and very proud of this thing that we do,” said Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison about 16^th Annual Williamsburg Police Department Shop with a Cop event.

“We get told day in and day out that America is a bad place. Those saying that need to come here for this event. People in this community just rally around this.”

Harrison said the city met its goal to take 150 children on $100 shopping sprees at Walmart. He said that the city would make special arrangements for any child that couldn’t be there Thursday to shop.

“To me this is Christmas. It makes me cry,” Harrison said unable to choke back tears. “Any time you have heartwarming things in your community, it gives you a lift. You see all the bad stuff going on, but you come out here and walk around with these kids and see how they look up to the police officers and firefighters and ambulance workers and it will absolutely warm your heart. This is one of the most fun things we do all year long.”

There were 19 Williamsburg Police Officers present for Friday’s event, in addition to several other volunteers, including: Third-District Constable Jim Thornton, and volunteers from the University of the Cumberlands’ Mountain Outreach program, Whitley County EMS, Williamsburg Fire Department, several employees from Williamsburg City Hall and others.

The spouses of several Williamsburg police officers were also on hand to volunteer Thursday.

Police Chief Wayne Bird noted that while his department does a number of projects throughout the year, Shop with a Cop remains his favorite event.

“This is by far the best event that we do. I think this year is a little more meaningful to us this year because of the pandemic and the hard times that everyone is having. We just enjoy doing it,” Bird said.

Participating parents said that the experience meant a lot to both them and their children.

“This is a good time for them to have smiles on their faces, and to see what our community has done for us,” said Ashley Adams about her children. “To me, it is just good to see my babies happy. It is a joy to me to see the smiles on their faces.”

Parent Tamara Thomas noted that this was the first time that her children had ever been picked for anything like this.

“We usually don’t get help for Christmas. It is awesome. They are loving it. They enjoy it,” Thomas added.