STORM2K

As some of you may have noticed I've been absent for almost a week now, I've been peeking in just no time to post. We, the Pinetop Police Dept in conjunction with Show Low PD and WalMart are sponsoring the 10th Annual "Shop with a Cop" day tomorrow, 15 Dec. We take the under privileged kids from the area and give them $100 to spend on Christmas presents for themselves or their families.....we had OVER 500 applicants and could only take 130 this year as donations were WAY down compared to last year. Let me tell ya, telling someone who is in DIRE needs of Christmas presents and not being able to accomadate them was one of THE hardest things I've done in YEARS......the look on these peoples faces when we told them they didn't qualify for help broke my heart. Michelle and I donated a $100 to the program, wish I could have done more but............

Anyways, if I get a chance to take some photos I will and post them later on this week "IF" things slow down a bit.

Dennis

Some sweet deserving kids will have an awesome time with their very own accompanying Frosty The Azsnowman tomorrow!

((((HUGS)))) Brother!

Eric

Dennis,

I LIKE that idea; but, in St. Louis, the demand for officers and $ to do it would have been, and still is prohibitive. Instead, the St. Louis Post-Disgrace[/] runs a "100 Most Needy Families" list every year; each family's needs are given anonymously, and donations are sent to the paper and distributed before the holidays.

It just might work for the Sikeston DPS (read: "tiny town troopers"); let me call the local [i]Standard-Democrat "Speak Out" line and see what happens. God knows they could use a little positive exposure!

Thats great!!!!!!! Today or tomorrow I am going to go through my daughters toys and donate them to children who really need them this holiday season........I do it every year......and I have been trying to explain that to my 5 year old daughter........."lets give the toys you dont play with anymore to kids who dont have as many toys as you do".....shes starting to get the hang of it.........cause i do it every year........It feels so good to help other people!!

(espically all these kids hit by the hurricanes this past summer) thats where im hoping most of our donations go to this year!

It went VERY, VERY well I must say it was ONE of the MOST moving experiences I've had in YEARS and YES.....I'm NOT ashamed to say this, when the little girl I shopped with (Richelle) after we checked out, loaded the bags in her and mothers cart I got CHOKED up BIG TIME......this little girl gave me a grown up hug and wished me a "Merry Christmas!" and told me this was the BEST Christmas for her EVER (11 years old)!! Her mother was speechless to say the least. Michelle had 3 boys (ages 3 to 11 yrs. old) and their baby sister (4 yrs. old)........these little guys were so WILD with excitement.

As I said, this was the BEST day I've had in YEARS, seeing the looks on these little guys and gals faces, I'll NEVER forget it!

There were some rules, at least half $50 had to spent on clothing for themselves, Richelle bought a winter coat, hat, gloves, scarf and winter boots and tennis shoes and of course, "TOYS" $50 doesn't go too far these days but non the less she was JAZZED beyond BELIEF!!!

I've got some GREAT photos I'll post later tonight!

Dennis

That is so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK....I found "1 minute" in my day to post these photos

These photos don't do justice to the AMOUNT of people lined up......like I said, we had OVER 110 kids PLUS parents.....this was at 0600 in the morning, it took OVER 3 hours to get the shopping done, let me TELL you, I know where EVERY toy in Walmart is AND I KNOW what the POPULAR TOY is this Christmas!

Dennis

NICE WORK! But...between 0600 and 0900, who was out on the street, while the local citizens are crying in the wilderness for protect/serve?

Just kidding...I got the same line 30 years ago when I took a welcome break for midnight lunch at one of the "pancake houses" on Christmas Eve/Christmas morning.