CONYERS, Ga. — The pandemic has forced the cancellation of so many things this year, but Christmas isn’t one of them.
Many local police departments help out children in need this time of year with their annual “Shop with a Cop” events. In Conyers, they’ve put it on for 13 years now.
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“Some kids run around. Some know exactly what they want. But seeing somebody getting something for Christmas, it’s a great program,” Lt. Greg Carson said.
The program was in a bit of a tight spot this season because of COVID. They’ve always thrown a big party and taken up to 100 children shopping on the same day.
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“Well I think about it year-round. When the pandemic happened, I thought how am I gonna make it work? I’ve got to make it work,” Sgt. Shyra Hardwick said.
They did it by wearing masks, and shopping with just a few children at a time over the course of a few weeks until everyone gets their gifts.
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Eleven-year-old Farah was one of them.
“I like Christmas because we get to decorate a tree and make cookies and stuff, and open presents,” Farah said.
So no matter how this year has changed so much for so many, the spirit of giving is just the same. And the smiles on the children’s faces were just as big.
“Merry Christmas!” Farah said.
