Sikeston DPS officers, MSHP troopers participate in Shop with a Hero
SIKESTON, Mo. (KBSI) – Some children are getting very special Christmas after members of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety did some shopping Thursday.
Over 150 children have gathered at Wal-Mart in Sikeston to Shop with a Hero for Christmas.
“So, this is giving Christmas to kids who might not get one or might and it’s just something the community can come together,” said Sikeston Department of Public Safety Resource Officer Sgt. Tyler Rowe.
He says the interaction helps with children being more comfortable around emergency personnel.
“They don’t get to see the guys in the regular patrol uniforms,” said Sgt. Rowe. “We have guys in their S.A.L.T. uniforms. The ambulance personnel maybe they only see them when there’s a bad car wreck or something bad is going on at their house. We really get to act outside of our professional job and really more of a community-oriented role.”
Kimberley Blissett is the Assistant Superintendent of Elementary for Sikeston R-6 schools. She says this event really helps show the kids how involved the community is in their lives.
“I think it brings our community together and shows our children and shows how much the community cares about them and how involved they are and it’s giving them something they might not otherwise get,” said Blissett. “Just letting them know that good people are still out there in the world.”
Blissett says this event is one of her personal favorites for the school year, watching students receive a gift they might not get without this program.
“It is my favorite thing to see, sometimes we get stuck in the office with paperwork and we get logged down with the logistics of everything, but this helps us to realize why we’re really here and what it’s all about.” she said.
Sgt. Rowe says that each child received a $200 voucher for gifts on whatever his/her heart desired.
Related story:
Shop With A Hero, Public Safety officers get into the Christmas spirit
