Third-Annual Shop With a First Responder is Biggest Yet

McKENZIE (December 15) — Christmas came early for 75 children in the McKenzie area, thanks to the collective efforts of the McKenzie Police Department, McKenzie Fire Department and many individuals who contributed to the third-annual Shop With a First Responder Christmas event for city children.

Preparation for this year’s Shop With a First Responder began as early as August, with first responders, businesses and community organizations hosting fundraisers and making charitable donations. Since then, the first responders received approximately $30,000 to purchase Christmas gifts for children whose families were identified as those who could use some assistance at Christmas. Children had to attend a McKenzie school to be considered for the program.

Each child had a budget of $300 to purchase gifts for themselves. A portion of the receipts was donated to the McKenzie Beta Sigma Phi in their annual Angel Tree program. In total, the Police, Fire, and Beta Sigma Phi are assisting 137 children this Christmas.

The Monday, December 15, shopping event began at Long Heights Baptist Church, where children were assigned a police officer, firefighter, Huntingdon PD officer, Huntingdon firefighter, Carroll County Sheriff deputy, THP officer, EMT or paramedic, TWRA officer, Homeland Security officer, Benton County Sheriff deputy, Drug Task Force officer or McKenzie Rotary Club member with whom to shop at Walmart-Huntingdon. A caravan of emergency vehicles, with both blue and red emergency lights activated, traveled from McKenzie to Huntingdon Walmart.

The children were encouraged to select clothes and gifts for themselves. Cell phones and gift cards could not be purchased with the donated funds.

Santa was in the store and greeted the children as they shopped.

At the checkout counter, Walmart associates marked through the product barcode to prevent the item from being returned for cash or exchange. Mayor Ryan Griffin and Police Chief Ryan White paid for each purchase with the donated money. A receipt was provided for each purchase.

Also in attendance were a host of family members of first responders.

This year, the first responders also provided holiday meals to Christmas for Kids families, thanks to donations from E.W. James & Sons Supermarkets. The meals include hams paid for by McKenzie’s Christmas for Kids donation funds.