The Madison County Sheriff’s Office held its fifth annual Shop with a Cop event at the Oneida Walmart in Madison County.

Thirty-six kids were chosen from the different elementary schools in Madison County to shop for gifts for not only themselves, but friends and family and get their gifts wrapped for free.

“It’s a really special thing to be able to help kids that maybe they’re not as fortunate as others to have them enjoy a very magical time of year,” Madison County Sheriff’s Office investigator Frank McCully said. “It’s something that I take a lot of pride in putting this together every year. It’s great watching the kids’ faces light up as they come in and get paired up with their uniform deputy and head out to go do some shopping.” 

Kids were able to spend $150 on their shopping spree. Oneida Walmart sponsors the event, but a large portion of the donations came from the Madison County’s Sheriff’s Office Corrections and rode patrol division.

“We participate in a yearlong no-shave event,” McCully said. “So we participate by wearing facial hair then we make a monetary donation. This year we raised approximately $6,000 by doing that.” 

“We bring everybody here because some of these kids shop for mom, they shop for dad, they shop for grandma or grandpa, their little sisters, their little brothers,” Madison County PIO Samantha Field said. “So here, they’re able to get a little something for everyone.” 

“I got Barbie’s, a make-up kit, a pretend make-up kit that doesn’t have actual make up and an LOL Doll and a boy doll,” shopper Hannah Depugh said.