COPS SAVE CHRISTMAS
Officers stock the tree for city kids at shopping event
Boston cop Larry Welch grew up poor in a Mission Hill project, one of 14 brothers and sisters. He knows what it’s like not to get any presents for Christmas.
So Welch was as excited as a kid on Christmas Eve last night playing Santa to 6-year-old Eliana, whose single mom has fallen on tough financial times. Welch told Eliana to get anything she wanted — and she did — at the ninth annual
“Shop with a Cop
— Heroes and Helpers” event at
South Boston’s Target.
Eliana’s shopping cart was filled with toys. There was a 3-foot-tall Disney Elena of Avalor. There were games and a doll for a friend so she could have a good Christmas, too. Every child got a $100 Target gift card but most officers didn’t think twice about reaching into their own wallets to pay more.
Welch forked over nearly $400 of his own money.
Eliana and her mom wore big smiles. So did Welch.
“She got everything she wanted. He was so generous. He went way above and beyond,” said Eliana’s mother, Sophia Simeon, who just started a new job. “I’m not able to afford this. He made my Christmas.”
Eliana gave Welch a big hug. “I love all these toys that he got me,” she said.
The crowded aisles were bustling with excitement as more than 300 children from across the city picked out their presents thanks to the Boston Police Activities/Athletic League (PAL). The kids were paired up with Boston cops, EMS workers, MBTA Transit police and cops from Hub colleges. The number of officers outnumbered the number of kids.
Amya, 13, had been excited for days. The Dorchester teen picked out a comforter, pajamas and headphones for herself as well as presents for her mother and younger sister and brother.
Boston police Superintendent-in-Chief William G. Gross, who started the program, was all smiles as he handed over his credit card to foot the $130 difference.
“You want the first or second interaction with the children and the parents with law enforcement, first responders, you want it to be positive instead of negative,” Gross said.
South Boston mother-of-nine Jackie Smith turned around so her son, Roberto, 10, wouldn’t see her cry when she told me she couldn’t afford to buy her kids and grandkids Christmas presents. Roberto chose two video games with Officer Chris Holt picking up the difference.
“You’re a star today,” Smith told Holt.
‘She got everything she wanted . ... He went way above and beyond.’ — SOPHIA SIMEON mother of Eliana
Officer Welch wishes the event had been around for his mom when he was a kid. “I remember Christmases. I’m one of 14,” Welch told me. “Guess what I got for Christmas?”
As he got older, Welch made a promise to give back to the community. “You know the give back?” Welch said. “It’s the best in the world.”