Giving kids a brighter Christmas

Local kids got a brighter Christmas because of the valleys’ Blue Angels. The law enforcement officers from Mesquite Police, Mohave and Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Las Vegas Metro Police Department took local kids from their area on a shopping spree to the Mesquite Walmart store on Dec. 18.

This tradition was started over 20 years ago by the Mesquite Police Department, local citizens and businesses that donated money to fund the project. The event has since grown and spread to include the surrounding areas.

Today, each department is funded by donations from local citizens and businesses. Each of the elementary schools specifies which students are eligible to participate in the Shop-With-a-Cop event. Mesquite’s Mayor Jesse Whipple and city council persons Karen Fielding and Pattie Gallo participated, along with new city manager Becca Schrupp.

The Mesquite Walmart store has participated ever since it opened. The store goes out of its way to accommodate the officers and kids. The staff comes dressed in holiday garb, and they provide a special checkout area. Jean Reber, manager, said, “We do this to appreciate the children in need and to support the police force in their efforts to take care of the families.” Every now and then, snafus happen, such as when the checkout registers’ computers went down for about 45 minutes. The very long line of officers and kids took time to get to know one another, and all faces were still smiling as they finally checked out.

All kids got to ride to Walmart in a police car. After shopping, the Mesquite kids went to the Elks Lodge for hot chocolate and goodies and a visit with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, played by Wade and Sharon Bevans this year. The Moapa Valley kids got a McDonald’s Happy Meal breakfast before going to Walmart. Then they went back to the community center and wrapped all their gifts.

Officer Stout from the Mesquite Police Department said, “This is our favorite event. We love to do it. The kids don’t shop just for themselves. They shop for their siblings and parents, too. Our local business and local residents contribute plenty of funds for us to bring these kids here and brighten their Christmas.”

Sergeant Keegan Doty from Las Vegas Metro said this event is the highlight of the year for them. He said, “We get to bring these kids here and see the smiles and excitement they have, yet it was all the businesses in Moapa that donated the money for this to happen, and they don’t get to see the joy they bring to these kids. We officers are riding on the coattails of the generosity of the Moapa Valley businesses.” Those businesses included Moapa Valley Family Dental, Simplot, Clea’s Moapa Valley Realty, Kasen Kolhoss Realty, Adrenaline ATV Rentals, Millet Insurance and Wheeler Electric.

It was a joyful day at Walmart for a lot of people, young and old.