Paulding Cops Shop For Kids Christmas Event Saturday

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — The Paulding County Sheriff's Office will hold their 20th Annual Cops for Kids Christmas shopping event Dec. 15, at 6:30 a.m. As usual, this year’s event will take place at the Dallas Walmart at 3615 Marietta Hwy, Dallas.

Cops for Kids participants are selected through an application process to verify that the children are truly needy. Cops for Kids focuses on boys and girls ages 8 to 13.

The reason that age range was selected was so that law enforcement officers could try and make a lasting and positive impact on those children. Last year we had over 200 children participate in the program and we spent approximately $45,000 total.

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Each child will be paired with a local law enforcement officer and together they shop for up to $200 in gifts for the child. There were also over 200 law enforcement and civilian participants that volunteered their time to take the kids shopping last year.

The Cops for Kids program raises money all year. The two biggest fundraisers are an annual golf tournament and a donation request letter which is sent to most every business license holder in Hiram, Dallas and unincorporated Paulding County. The majority of funds that are used in the program are donated by local businesses.

“These children would not have a Christmas without this program and its volunteers,” said Sheriff Gulledge. “It is so important that these children get to experience Christmas the same way that many of us remember it.”

If you feel compelled to donate to the Cops for Kids program, we would encourage you to do so. The best way to assist is by dropping off a check at the Paulding County Sheriff's Office.

Photos courtesy Paulding County Sheriff's Office