Courtesy Photo | Shawn Blackwell
Dec. 15, first responders from the Silsbee area gathered at the Silsbee Fire Department (SFD) headquarters for “Sharyn The Blessing: — formerly know as “Shop With A Hero.”
According to SPD Chief Shawn Blackwell, this year the program’s name was changed to “Sharyn The Blessing” to honor and remember former Silsbee Municipal Judge Sharyn Grisham, who died Jan. 27.
This year, the program helped about 30 families for Christmas.
“Helping out people in need is one of the greatest gifts one can receive,” said Chief Blackwell. “To see a child give a genuine smile is a great blessing. I hope and pray that people sit back and reflect this Christmas on the true reason that we, as a community, celebrate this holiday; because, I believe that the birth of Jesus is the most important historical event that this world will ever see.”
According to Jamie Plaunty, the initial event began in 2017 with Daniel Tucker, general manager at Walmart, wanting to build a relationship with the store and Silsbee Police Department (SPD). With the help of a couple of Walmart employees, the idea of “Shop With A Cop” began.
Even after one of the Walmart employees moved to another store, the late judge Grisham helped continue the program between Walmart and SPD and SFD. Thanks to added donations from community benefactors, more families could be helped and the event grew into a multi-organizational event.
One child from a family was designated as the shopper for the family and would meet up at Walmart for shopping with a SPD officer for their siblings and themselves. Then the recipient would go to the SPD headquarters to wrap gifts with their assigned officer, enjoy pizza and fellowship with officers. There were 22 families in the first year.
In 2018, the program received more donations to reach more families and the program name was changed to “Shop With A Hero.” More than 40 families were helped as local first responders, along with a few Army Reserves, participated.
In 2019, 37 families were helped.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, things slightly changed, but 48 families were helped. The children shopped and came back to the SFD station for a pizza party and to wrap their gifts.
2021 saw more families and the store was handling the effect of the pandemic and had staffing issues. Also, a decision was made to allow volunteers from the different organizations to help with shopping and wrapping gifts for the families. The entire family was invited to the pizza party that included a bounce house. At the end of the night, the gifts and a Christmas dinner box was sent home with each family.