As the clock approached 5 p.m. Thursday, the layaway department at the Scottsboro Walmart filled up with local heroes. From police officers and firefighters to active military personnel, veterans and more, these heroes all volunteered their time to participate in Delta Kappa Gamma’s first-ever Shop with a Hero program to help local children in need. And, as evidenced by the smiles on the faces of the participating children as they left Walmart that evening, this program proved to be a great success.
Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) is a nonprofit organization that consists of elite female educators chosen based on their outstanding service to the field of education. The organization consists of active and retired female educators who have expertise at all levels within the educational construct. Kristy Bell, who was selected by her DKG peers to serve as chapter president from 2014 to 2016, said that upon taking her oath for this position, her vision was for the organization to give back to the local community in various areas of identified need.
“One area of focus and need was to enhance our Christmas charity program and impact a multitude of children and families during this time of year,” Bell said. “As a result, the proposal and implementation of the Shop with a Hero program within our society as our Christmas charity event was accepted.”
Bell and her fellow DKG members were able to raise $5,300 to support the Shop with a Hero program, which allowed 53 children from throughout Jackson County to participate. According to Bell, the children who participated were chosen based on need.
After all the preparation, DKG’s Shop with a Hero program came to life Thursday evening, and there was no shortage of local heroes from all walks of life who were willing to help make this program a success. These heroes included police officers, firefighters, veterans, political officials, EMTs, nurses, teachers, active servicemen, social workers, respiratory therapists and hospice care workers. Armed with a $100 Walmart gift card and a shopping cart, each hero was paired with one of the 53 participating children and their parent/guardian for a Christmas shopping spree.
One of these heroes, Scottsboro Police Lt. Erik Dohring, was paired with Scottsboro High School student Michael Cornelison, 16, and his uncle, David Murray. Dohring asked Cornelison for some suggestions of items he would like for Christmas, and Cornelison’s first thought was an Axe gift set, which included deodorant, body spray and other hygiene-related items. As he continued shopping, Cornelison also selected a pair of shoes, a jacket, socks, t-shirts and shorts to buy with his $100 gift card. And, being an Alabama Crimson Tide fan, he was pleased to include a long-sleeved Tide shirt among his gifts.
The carts of other participants were filled with similar items, including clothes and other necessities, while some of the younger kids selected a variety of other gifts, such as toys, movies and games.
Like his fellow heroes, Dohring kept his smartphone handy for quick access to a calculator to keep a running total of the purchases so as not to exceed the amount on the gift card. All of the purchases were tax-free, and as Cornelison placed his final item in the cart, Dohring came up with a total of $97.77, and they headed to a register for checkout. Once Cornelison’s items had been checked out, the total came to a little above the amount on the gift card, but Dohring said he was glad to pitch in the extra amount.
After the items had been purchased, DKG members were on hand to wrap them up in colorful holiday wrapping paper. Beth Sisk and others remained busy at the wrapping station ensuring each gift was ready to be placed under a Christmas tree.
Each of the participants had smiles on their faces as they left the store with their wrapped gifts, and that was all Bell needed to see to confirm this event as a success.
“My goal for this event was to impact a multitude of children within our communities, and after seeing the response Thursday night, I believe we succeeded,” Bell said. “Through developed partnerships with various organizations, this program yielded success and assisted children and families during this time of year that is laden with the gift of giving.”
Dohring said he and the other members of the SPD who participated as heroes enjoyed the experience and were more than willing to volunteer their time to connect with children in the local community.
“The Scottsboro Police Department is always happy to participate in events like this because it gives us an opportunity to interact and connect with local kids outside of our normal line of duty as law enforcement officers,” he said.
Likewise, Scottsboro Fire Chief Gene Necklaus, who participated in the program with other SFD representatives, said he was honored to volunteer his time in this endeavor.
“It was a blessing to see kids who rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to shop like that to be able to do so. It was also touching to see that some of the kids were eager to pick things out to give as gifts for other people instead of just thinking of themselves,” Necklaus said. “It was fun for me and the other members of the fire department to participate in this. Everyone who participated this year said they wanted to do it again next year, and we appreciate everyone who helped make this event possible.”
Bell said she and everyone with DKG wanted to thank all the heroes for participating in this event as well as the managers and associates at Walmart who assisted with the program. She also wanted to thank the Jackson County Discretionary Committee, City of Scottsboro, Mr. Rooter, Harbin Chevrolet, Harbin Ford, Dr. Charles Bradford, Horace Clemmons, Ladies of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Walmart Foundation and the Jackson County Commission for their sponsorships that made this program possible.
“As a result of these contributions, our society was able to assist 53 students from every school in Jackson County,” Bell said. “It is truly an honor to serve in a society that works to give back to the wonderful people of the area in which we live.”
