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Over 160 SPS students shop with heroes
SIKESTON — Christmas came early for over 160 Sikeston children in preschool through high school who participated in “Shop With a Hero” Thursday, Dec. 14 at Walmart in Sikeston.
There were 162 children in Sikeston R-6 School District’s prekindergarten through high school who received $200 each to spend while shopping with a local hero at Walmart in Sikeston.
All of the money raised was donated by individuals and local businesses. This year’s donations totaled $35,000 with the Sikeston Jaycees and Sikeston VFW donating $10,000 each.
Participating local heroes included Sikeston DPS with employees from its patrol division, fire division, communications and DPS chaplains; Missouri State Highway Patrol members from the motor vehicle inspection and commercial motor vehicle divisions; Missouri Department of Conservation officers; Missouri Department of Corrections; Missouri Children’s Division, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, South Scott County EMS, Scott County Juvenile Office.
“The agencies and Sikeston schools helped DPS show how many amazing heroes we have in this down that wanted to help the students shop,” said Sikeston R-6 School Resource Officer Brent Mullin.
Participating students are selected on a needs-basis by the schools who interact with them everyday, according to Sgt. Tyler Rowe, school resource officer and public information officer for Sikeston Department of Public Safety. This comes from the recommendation of the teachers, counselors and administration, he said. Also if a student is selected, and they have siblings, their siblings will be selected as well.
Rowe said he, Mullin and fellow school resource officer Nason Lane contact Dr. Kimberley Blissett, assistant superintendent of elementary and special services for Sikeston Public Schools, and she organizes all the logistics on the side of the public school.
“Without the schools’ help and the work that Trisha Griswell (Sikeston DPS administrative assistant) puts into this event, it would not happen,” Rowe said.
As Kerri Taylor with Sikeston DPS shopped with students on Thursday, she noted how the children often use their funds to purchase gifts for their family members.
“The cutest thing is they start buying for their family,” Taylor said. “They start picking out items for their mom, their brother, their sister.”
Mullin said he’s also seen children shop for gifts for their entire family. He said everyone’s goal with “Shop With a Hero” is to help Sikeston students have a great Christmas.
“This is one of my favorite days of the year is when we get to come out and do this. It’s a blast,” Mullin said.
Blissett agreed.
“This is my favorite time, my favorite day of the whole year,” she said. “It’s the best day ever.”
The community support for the children and their families is amazing, Blissett said. She noted all of the heroes who participate in the event are doing this on their own time off from work.
“The community has done an amazing job of providing for 162 of our kids,” Blissett said. “The first year we did this, we had 25 kids. Now we’re at 162. So, we have children from every one of our buildings here today.”
Mullin said next year, he wants to be able to take 200 students shopping for Christmas.
“We started this (event) five years ago,” Mullin recalled. “We were helping other departments with their shop programs, and I said to (Sikeston DPS) Chief (James) McMillen: ‘Hey, we’re not taking Sikeston kids shopping.’ He said: ‘Run with it.’ So this is our fifth year, and it’s grown every year since then.”
Mullin said he’s proud of the program’s growth.
“Our community has stepped up, and we asked for donations, and it hasn’t stopped yet,” Mullin said. “I don’t see our community not helping anytime soon.”