Program’s seventh year featured a parade with a helicopter
A gathering of first responders and students has been a key feature of Christmas in Gilmer County for the last seven years.
“We want to give back to the community. It reminds me of why I do this, and why I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” said Ellijay Police Department (EPD) Captain Ray Grace.
For about 85 local kids, the Shop with a Hero gave them a chance to have fun and get help with their needs.
Each child gets $200 to spend at Walmart while accompanied by a first responder. At least $75 must be spent on some type of clothing.
“They can spend the other $125 on whatever they want,” he said. “Some of the guys and ladies open up their wallets to buy them a little bit more.”
The money comes from Ellijay Police Foundation, which raises $30,000 each year.
This year Saturday, Dec. 13, kids showed up to Ellijay Elementary School to eat breakfast, decorate cookies, read a book with Santa Claus and sing Christmas carols.
From there, they embarked on a grand parade from the Ellijay Elementary School to Walmart with a Georgia State Patrol helicopter overhead.
“They were above the parade the entire time,” Grace said.
When the kids arrived at Walmart, they were greeted by people dressed up as colorful Christmas characters before they went shopping.
Since its beginning, the Shop with a Hero program has attracted a wide range of first responders from far beyond the EPD, Grace said.
Gilmer Fire and EMS, Gilmer School System, Georgia State Patrol, the District Attorney’s Office, East Ellijay Police Department, EPD, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Pickens County Fire Department, Cartersville Fire Department and others all participated.
Shop with a Hero can be just as much an encouragement for first responders as it can be for kids.
First responders often see the worst elements of human nature. The chance to show love to local kids and spend time having fun together is “100 percent” encouraging to them, Grace said.
“It’s become a community event,” he said.
Shop with a Hero is far from the only charitable event EPD does.
EPD also donates hundreds of bags of non-perishable foods to Gilmer High School, a Christmas dinner drive of 20 dinners for local families, a Secret Santa program for middle school students and more.
“When you do things for kids and you’re giving back to the community, you tend to get the support you need from the community,” Grace said.