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A COLORFUL CHRISTMAS: Forty-three children were invited to Shop with a Safety Officer at Walmart on Wednesday, where they were given a budget of $140 each for their shopping. Children are chosen for the event based on need. This little shopper seemed pleased with her gift choices when the shopping spree came to an end. (Vail Stewart Rumley | Daily News)

For a fourth year, Washington Police and Fire Services has reached out to children in need by treating them to a Christmas shopping spree.

Wednesday, police officers and firefighters met up with the children of ExCEL, a program for special needs children, and other organizations to offer some Christmas cheer to those families who might not be able to afford many gifts this holiday season.

Forty-three children were invited to participate in Shop with a Safety Officer, and each child was allowed $140 to spend on gifts at Walmart.
“It means so much,” said Alan Pittman, ExCEL’s director. “It’s very special that this population is included.”

Pittman said when he called the ExCEL kids’ parents about the event, it was clear the gesture was appreciated.

“I had several of them cry tears of joy because they didn’t know how they were going to do Christmas this year,” Pittman said.

Washington Police Department’s outreach coordinator Kimberly Grimes said the police department’s relationship with the children of ExCEL spills over from their participation in ExCEL’s summertime tee-ball games.

“We’ve always had a god relationship with the ExCEL program and, those children, we have been adopting a lot of them during this time of year,” Grimes said. “We have an opportunity to help out the community that we live in, of families that are in need, and we’re happy to be able to help in that way during the season.”

Grimes said the Shop with a Safety Officer has grown from 10 children in its first year to 43 for Wednesday’s event, which has actually led donors to reach out to WPD with support.

“They have seen, every year, we have been adding kids. They’ve seen what we were doing and wanted to be a part,” Grimes said, adding that many firefighters and officers sponsor children themselves.

“It’s affected, not just the kids, but it has affected us in seeing the need out there,” Grimes said.

For Police and Fire Services Director Stacy Drakeford, the event has a deeper meaning for those doing the giving.

“It’s more important to be a blessing to other people if you’ve been blessed your whole life,” Drakeford said.

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