Sheriff shops with 90 kids

Outing brings toys and joy to children from Chester County Family Academy

EAST MARLBOROUGH » The Chester County Sheriff’s Department made a cloudy day brighter on Saturday for 90 children from the Chester County Family Academy.

A program conceived by Sheriff’s Deputy Harry McKinney called Shopping with the Sheriff made its debut at the Kennett Square Wal-Mart, as children in need from kindergarten through second grade made the rounds of the store and each picked out $100 worth of gifts.

All of the children were accompanied by a deputy, a volunteer elf or Sheriff Bunny Welsh herself. They were free to select gifts for themselves and their families, and their adult helpers assured that they were able to find what they wanted.

McKinney, who spends most of his time overseeing the depart-

ment’s canine unit, said he presented the idea for the event to Welsh earlier in the year and began making arrangements in June. He modeled it after Coatesville’s Shop with a Cop, which does pretty much the same thing.

Probably the most important part of McKinney’s project was arranging with Wal-Mart to match the $50 contributions made to the program from the public with another $50 each from the store.

“I knew Wal-Mart was community-minded and could be involved,” he said.

He added that he solicited public contributions by mail and was pleased with the response.

“The community wrapped its arms around it,” he said.

Welsh said the children were selected from a list of those recommended by the academy. They were picked up at Providence Church in West Chester early Saturday morning and transported via school bus to Wal-Mart, accompanied by a large parade of sheriff’s vehicles with sirens blaring and lights blinking.

There they were taken to a meeting room where they were assigned to their adult helpers, who made sure they found what they needed and spent the funds they were allowed.

Wal-Mart customer service employees stood by as well and helped the children and deputies find the items the children had placed on their lists.

Many of them picked out not only toys for themselves, but things for their brothers, sisters and parents.

After the shopping, the group returned to Providence Church, had lunch with Santa Claus and got help wrapping the presents.

Next Saturday, Welsh and her deputies oversee the Wreaths Across America event at the Oxford Cemetery.

CHRIS BARBER — DAILY LOCAL NEWS Sheriff Bunny Welsh and Jaden check out the toys that the young shopper might want to purchase on Saturday.

CHRIS BARBER — DAILY LOCAL NEWS Sheriff’s Deputy Brad DeSando and Naomi look at toys she selected for herself and family during Shopping with the Sheriff on Saturday.

CHRIS BARBER — DAILY LOCAL NEWS Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Kearney and Brian check out the Legos at Wal-Mart during Shopping with the Sheriff on Saturday.

CHRIS BARBER — DAILY LOCAL NEWS Children from the Chester County Family Academy join to hear about their upcoming adventure Shopping with the Sheriff at the Kennett Square Wal-Mart on Saturday.