The Sharps Chapel Volunteer Fire Department held it’s 3rd year of Shop with a Firefighter on Saturday morning, December 17, 2022 at the Wal-Mart in New Tazewell.
Chief Chris Upton said the department looks forward to this event every year now, “We enjoy the looks on these kids faces while they are shopping”. “What makes it even better is when one of the kids buys something for a brother or sister”, Upton said.
This year the department was able to help 10 kids in the shopping spree. Each kid is allotted $150.00, ($100 in clothing items and $50 in toys, etc.)
The money for this event is donated mostly by the firefighters in the department with a few private donors. The kids are all from Sharps Chapel and picked by school staff.
The department started doing this 3 years ago instead of having a department Christmas dinner and exchanging gifts amongst each other, Upton said “We discussed it and decided this is what we wanted to start doing”. Chief Upton said he wants to thank all of the department members for their donations and those who helped with this years shopping.
The department has already got a jump start for next year and hopes to be able to help more kids in the shopping spree. Merry Christmas !!!