To:Metro Atlanta Media
For Immediate Release
Cops for Kids 2009
(Dallas, GA) The Paulding County Sheriff's Office held their 13th annual Cops for Kids Christmas shopping event on December 19, 2009. For the forth consecutive year, the Dallas Wal-Mart on Dallas Hwy (3615 Marietta Hwy. Dallas, GA 30157) hosted the shopping event.
Participants were selected through an application. The Paulding Holiday Programs accepts applications from families in need. To apply, each family must show proof of residency, birth certificate, and proof of income. Cops for Kids focuses on youth ages 9 to 12 to make a positive impact between youth and law enforcement. This year we had 250 children participate in the program. Each child was paired with a local law enforcement officer and together they shopped for up to $150 in gifts for the child. Over $38,000.00 was spent this year to help provide Christmas to some of Paulding County’s children. Seventy Three (73) law enforcement officers from the Paulding County Sheriff's Office, Paulding County Marshal's Bureau, Dallas Police Department, and Hiram Police Department volunteered their time to take the kids shopping.
Cops for Kids raised money all year. The two biggest fundraisers are an annual golf tournament and a donation request letter sent to every business license holder in the cities of Hiram and Dallas and Paulding County. The majority of funds are donated by local businesses.
“With the falling economy, these children would not have had a Christmas without this program and its volunteers,” said Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge. “Due to the economy this year, it is so much more important to us to see that these children get to experience Christmas the same way that so many of us remember it.”