Oceana kids get to shop with officers at local store

By Mary Catherine Brooks
Wyoming County Bureau chief

December 13, 2007 06:25 pm

— Thirty-five Oceana area children will be treated to a Christmas shopping spree Dec. 22 at Magic Mart through the Shop With The Oceana Police Department program.
The Oceana Police Department is in the process of raising $3,500 from area businesses and residents, according to Chief J.E. Barlow.
Other Christmas projects are winding down, explained Mayor Nola Rose, but there is still time to help with the Oceana project.
Donations can be made at town hall, the police department, or Magic Mart, according to store manager Mike Goodson. A decal will be placed in the store window acknowledging those who have made contributions, he said.
“We wanted to get on board and help raise money for this,” Goodson emphasized.
Though there are numerous decals already identifying those who have contributed, Goodson noted there is still lots of space for additional decals and contributions are much needed.
The children — selected by staff at Berlin McKinney Elementary and Oceana Middle schools — will shop individually with an Oceana officer. The store will be closed to the public during the shopping spree.
“We hope to be able to spend $100 on each child,” Barlow said.
“This is our first year and we want to continue to do this every year, and hopefully it will grow each year,” Rose said.
“I think this is going to be a great thing for the town,” she added. “I think this speaks well of our police department. They want to get to know the people and the children here. I’m just really proud of them.”