The Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department held Shop with a Firefighter Shopping Spree on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at the Wal-Mart in New Tazewell. Instead of holding a department Christmas Diner and exchanging gifts within the department this year, the firefighters all make donations to sponsor local kids in the Sharps Chapel Community that are in need, or their families are having financial hard times. The kids are picked from staff at the local school that have not already been chosen or sponsored by other local charities that do a similar program for kids. Chief Chris Upton said the department sponsored 6 local kids in 2019 but did not do the program in 2020 due to the COVID issue. This year we were able to sponsor 8 local kids. Upton said he met with the department members, and they all decided this is what they wanted to do. Upton said $150.00 is spent on each child split up between clothing items and toys. The department hopes to be able to sponsor more local kids next year. Chief Upton said he wanted to thank the Firefighters, Junior Firefighters, and Lady Auxiliary members who helped shop with the children and their parents during the event.