Local Families 'Shop With the Sheriff' for Back-to-School Needs

Macomb County Reserve Officers helped 100 children with their back-to-school shopping

Saturday at the Meijer store in Washington Township.

What would dozens of Macomb County Sheriff's officers be doing in the Washington Township Meijer Saturday afternoon? Why, shopping of course.

These officers, along with Sheriff Anthony Wickersham and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, were participating in the fifth annual Shop with the Sheriff event, sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office, Central Macomb Optimist Club and the Macomb Charitable Foundation.

Paired with Macomb County Reserve Officers, 100 children, many from Macomb County's homeless shelters, received as much as $125 to spend on school supplies, clothes and other back-to-school needs.

Check out these photos submitted by Cindie Szarek, of the Central Macomb Optimist Club.

http://macomb.patch.com/articles/local-families-shop-with-the-sheriff-for-back-to-school-needs?ncid=wtp-patch-headline#photo-7440884

"Shop with Sheriff"

Published: Saturday, August 13, 2011

 By Linda May

Photo submitted by Kelley Wallis Macomb County Sheriff Reserves Deputy Tony Viviano and Elaine Lyon from the Central Macomb Optimist Club help needy families shop for school necessities.                                                            

Back-to-school shoppers make a beeline for the shoe department at the Central Macomb Optimist Club's annual "Shop with the Sheriff" event.

"The Macomb Charitable Foundation selects 100 of the most needy children in Macomb County to come to this event," Optimist member Kelley Wallis said. "Each child is able to spend $100 on almost anything in the store. Typically, the families race to the shoe area first. They will be looking for school clothes and supplies," she said.

Optimist members and Sheriff Reserves officers will be at a Shelby Township retailer early next week to set up. Families join them and shop until the afternoon. Optimists sponsor the shopping spree and get a "generous" discount from the retailer while a local pizza shop donates lunch.

"We 'partner' each child with a sheriff reserves deputy, which allows these children to have a positive experience with law enforcement," Wallis said. "It's heartwarming to see a small child holding the hand of a big sheriff in full uniform. It's exciting to see the kids and their parents go through the store shopping for needed items."

She said it's not unusual for the officers to add their own dollar bills if the total is slightly over the limit.

"The sheriffs also bring their motorcycles and cars. The kids love to see them and have their pictures taken with them," Wallis said.

Optimists sponsor Respect for Law Day and have oral essay contests for teenagers in the county youth home, in conjunction with their ongoing schooling, and they supplement the youth home's library.

"Shop with the Sheriff is rewarding to all who participate, because we are helping children," Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said. "The interaction between the children and seeing their smiling faces not only brings joy to the children, but touches the hearts of our officers. This event is just one example of how our reserve deputies help our community."

"These children and their families are very appreciative. It is heartwarming to see them shopping and it gives us a sense of gratitude for the things we have that the less-privileged in our own community do not. It is truly an opportunity for us to help those in our own backyard," Wallis said. "Some of the kids last year bought paper products as they don't have the simple necessities such as toilet paper. Other kids bought sheets, underwear, socks, shoes. I guess that's the thing that seems the most shocking; how they want for the basic everyday necessities. One kid asked if he could buy bacon — a luxury item to their household.

"The other observation is how the 'family in need' has changed just these past few years," Wallis said. "It could easily be any one of us who loses a job or has a family member who is affected with a financially devastating illness. These are your everyday walk of life people. The down-turned economy and rise in unemployment has caused middle-class America to live paycheck to paycheck."

Helping needy children in Macomb County is the mission of Central Macomb Optimist Club. For more information about joining or helping the club with its projects, contact Wallis at (586) 747-6016.