Every year for the past 3 years I have participated in a program called "Shop with a Cop". The Optimist Club of Anne Arundel Co. has school guidance counselors nominate a child who is doing well in school, but comes from a challenged background. Each child is picked up from home by a police officer and taken to Walmart where they are given a $100 gift card to shop and then we go to lunch at the Outback Steakhouse. I have found it to be a very rewarding experience.
This year was--lets just say---challenging. I had an 8 year old boy that was just overwhelmed with the thought of being able to "buy anything I want". He certainly had no concept of how far $100 would go. There were a few temper tantrums when I would not let him buy rated R movies--I did say he was 8 years old right? Overall he had a terrific time, he bought himself a new bike and several toys and even gifts for his 2 brothers and father. The thing that I found most sad was the fact that he refused to buy anything for his mother. I don't know what his family situation is, but it must be tough.
This is the season of giving, I have found that after the giving of a day with a child that I am truly blessed.
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