Dougherty County sheriff’s deputies spread holiday cheer

ALBANY — In what has become an annual holiday tradition, Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office deputies helped spread some Christmas cheer Monday when they took area youth out to “Shop with a Sheriff” at Albany’s Kmart.

Each year deputies spend a day taking area youngsters between the ages of 6 and 15 shopping for Christmas. Each child is given a budget, which this year was $110, from which to shop for Christmas gifts for their themselves and loved ones.

This year the “Shop with a Sheriff” day began at Albany’s Tokyo restaurant, where children were treated a donated lunch. After that deputies took the children to Kmart where they were allowed to fill up their buggies with anything they wanted, much to the delight of the children and the deputies who volunteered their time to be a part of the fun.

According to Sheriff Kevin Sproul, the “Shop with a Sheriff” program has become one of his organization’s favorite days of the year, as they get to spend some time doing something special for children who are in need during the Christmas season, something he feels is important.

“My belief is God sent his son as the best Christmas gift anyone has ever gotten,” said Sproul. “We can’t duplicate that but we can share his spirit by taking these kids shopping.”

Sproul said the program, which is funded by local citizens and businesses, is a way to bring some light into the lives of children who are are too often faced with darkness.

“If you can imagine living in the environment some of the children live in today, with violence all around them, drugs everywhere, bullying, so many factors that are negative,” Sproul shared. “We try to provide at least one positive thing from them. It’s the deputies’ favorite day of the year.”

Deputy Rick Windham agreed, saying he looks forward to “Shop with a Sheriff” all year long, so he can get a chance to spend some quality time with the children.

“I’ve never missed a year,” said Windham. “I really, really look forward to going with these kids. I love it, I absolutely love it.”

That sentiment was shared by Lt. Terron Hayes, who said the sheriff’s office gets to know many of the children through0ut the year through outreach programs such as Beyond Scared Straight that the sheriff’s office’s summer camps.

“We’ve kept in touch with them through the school year,” said Hayes. “We have some cases where people call us up and we go out and check the conditions the kids are in. It’s one of the only times I wish I was a rich man, so I could make a lot more people happy.”

While the deputies themselves enjoy the shopping trip, the children, many of whom would not have any Christmas gifts without this program, are even more excited.

“It feels really good,” said Melba Green. “At first I wasn’t sure about it, but then I thought it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Green, like many of the other children, said the sizable budget is helpful because it gives her the opportunity to get some things for herself and some Christmas gifts for her relatives as well.

“I got my CD (Nicki Minaj) that I’ve been wanting since November, some clothes, some beauty stuff like nail polish and lip gloss,” said Green. “I’m also going to get things for my mom and my niece and my nephew.”

“They can get anything in the store,” said Sproul. “What’s happening a lot though is these kids buy things for their siblings or their mom for Christmas.”

Sproul said without the support of local people such as Jean Solomon, local organizations such as Children at Risk Foundation and Omega Psi Phi sorority, and local businesses such as Kmart, TCBY Treats, Walmart, SAM’s Club and Coveris, “Shop with a Sheriff” wouldn’t be the success that it has become.

“It’s a special day,” he said.