“Christmas in July” is a sales gimmick sometimes used by stores and car dealers to jack up sales during the dog days of summer.
In Caroline County, however, a public-spirited group of individuals is already hard at work on making this Christmas special for about 50 disadvantaged local youngsters.
The organizers of “Cops 4 Kids” include Preston McLain, Bill Green, Russell Harvey, Danny Carter, Caroline Sheriff Tony Lippa and CCSO Maj. Scott Moser.
Similar programs exist throughout Central Virginia and Caroline has participated in some of them in the past, Moser said. What they plan this year will have a new twist, however.
In December, each child will be accompanied on a shopping trip by a deputy and allowed to spend $50 on his own presents and an additional $50 on presents for brothers and sisters. After shopping, the youngsters will share a meal with their escorts and wrap the gifts.
The objective of Cops 4 Kids is to help underprivileged youngsters have a joyous Christmas, realize that cops are their friends, and to learn that giving gifts is as important as getting them,” Moser said. “We are working with Social Services to get a list of kids.”
“It is our hope that through positive interactions at a young age we can break down any negative barriers that may exist and strengthen a relationship built on mutual trust and respect,” Lippa noted.
“We are trying to raise $100 per child,” Moser said. “We had a pancake breakfast that raised $511 and plan another one at Bowling Green Baptist Church.”
Danny Carter is organizing a Cops 4 Kids golf tournament to be held July 24 at Pendleton Golf Club in Ladysmith. The entry fee is $75 a player, which includes golf, lunch and prizes. For more information on this tournament, contact Carter at (804) 448-8500 or Moser at (804) 633-1126.
Carter, Russell, Green and McLain have been involved in many fund-raising activities and are as enthusiastic about this project as the folks in law enforcement, Moser said.
“A side benefit of this is that the cops get as much out of it as the kids do. If you are in the dumps, you feel better,” Moser said.
“The job can get you down sometimes. This sort of thing rekindles the spark of public service and reaffirms what you do in the community.”