Macon County Sheriff Robbie Holland, 27 years ago, arrested a mother of three young girls before Christmas.
The sheriff and his wife that year bought gifts, wrapped them and put them on the young girl’s front porch late Christmas Eve. Upon returning home, there was a newscast about the program Shop with a Cop on television – it was at this time Holland and Marcie decided to start SWAC for Macon County children in the Franklin area.
A few years later, when Bill Harrell became the police chief of Highlands, he and the sheriff decided to include Highlands and Otto in the SWAC program.
SWAC provides Christmas for children who would have little or no Christmas. Each child participating receives a $100 gift card to spend at Walmart in Franklin. The children will be asked to buy something for themselves and for someone else. Then with the remaining funds, the children may purchase anything they wish, including necessities for the home. This was not allowed a few years ago, but Holland and his officers saw there was a great need.
Holland recalled one year one child got only a bottled water and another got only food. Holland recalled a new police officer that had participated in every SWAC fundraising eevent. Holland thanked the officer.
“You just don’t understand how much this project means to me,” the officer said. “I was one of those children you took shopping.”
The shopping will be done differently than as in the past, due to COVID-19. The officers and the parents will determine what is most comfortable for them. Instead of all going together at one time, it will be done individually.
Donations are needed to help these children have a Christmas. Ways to give a donation are, to take the donation to the Highlands Police Department, or mail the donation to Caroline Cook, P.O. Box 2785, Highlands, 28741. Make your check out to Shop With A Cop or SWAC. The donation is tax deductible.
Mountain Garden Club endorses this program. Many of the members help raise funds for SWAC.
“If you hear a tiny voice on Christmas morning, it will be a child saying thank you.”