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Capt. Buddy Grant shares a smile and some holiday gift ideas with a little girl shopping for her family at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Inverness.
The Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Affairs Unit, working closely with the Homosassa Wal-Mart and Inverness Wal-Mart Supercenter, solicited referrals from the county’s elementary school guidance counselors to provide deserving students with a totally free-of-cost shopping spree, plus the makings of a full family feast for the holidays.
On Tuesday, Dec. 8, youngsters will enjoy a kid’s meal, courtesy of the McDonald’s by the Homosassa Wal-Mart. Then, at 6 p.m., with a $100 gift card in hand, children will be escorted through the store by deputies who’ll help them pick out gifts for their parents, siblings and other family members. The children are always encouraged to buy something special for themselves, too.
The same festivities will be repeated on Thursday, Dec. 10, at the Inverness Wal-Mart Supercenter and the McDonald’s inside the store.
In addition to Sheriff Jeff Dawsy and his deputies who give of their time and expertise as shopping elves, Sheriff’s Office volunteers and others will be on hand to wrap the children’s purchases for gift giving at the holidays.
The families of the 75 lucky youngsters also will be presented with a turkey, plus all the trimmings, for a holiday feast of their own to remember.
If any individual or organization wishes to donate funds to this annual holiday event, there’s still time. Just make checks payable to Shop With a Cop and mail them to Dep. Joe Faherty, the event’s organizer, at the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, 1 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450. For more information, please call Dep. Faherty at 726-4488 during regular business hours.
According to Faherty, 100 percent of the monies raised goes directly to the children.
