HOPE – Howard Tippitt, of the Plow Boys Car Club presents a $500 check to Sheriff James Singleton and deputies for the sheriff’s “Operation Christmas” fund.

The “Shop with a Deputy” event will benefit approximately 60 Hempstead County Kids whose names were submitted by churches and others from all over Hempstead County. The kids and their parents have been notified to meet at Wal-Mart on Saturday, December 16, at 9 a.m.

Deputies and other law enforcement officers will meet at the Hempstead County Law Enforcement Center at 8 a.m. to form a motorcade with a very special passenger. The Big Guy himself Santa has agreed to take time out of his busy schedule to help the sheriff and his deputies.

A convoy of law enforcement and other emergency vehicles will leave the Law Enforcement Center at 8:30 a.m. and escort Santa to Wal-Mart where he will meet and greet the children and parents in the Garden Center. Wal-Mart employees and volunteers will have hot chocolate and cookies for the youngsters.

Reverend Jesse Henry will deliver a short devotional on what Christmas really means, after that the children will be paired up with deputies, officers and other first responders to go shopping. Each child will be allowed to spend $125 each on presents. After each child’s shopping spree, they will return to the garden center where they will have pictures with Santa and the officer.

Volunteers will also be available to wrap each child’s purchase.

 Any funds left over will go to buy tricycles, small bicycles, and helmets for children at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

“I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our first Operation Christmas and those citizens and business who took ad’s out in our 2018 Day Planner. If those citizens and business had not stepped up and purchased the ad’s we could not serve so many kids this year. I would also like to thank those who contributed and wanted to remain anonymous.

The following is a list of Business who contributed to our 2018 Day planner, I’m thankful that we have so many business’s that were willing to help us make this many Hempstead County children have a Merry Christmas,” Singleton said.

2018 OPERATION CHRISTMAS Day Planner Contributors.

TOWNSEND OUTDOORS, PARRISH EQUIPMENT, THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF TOM BEAN, DIAMOND BANK, PARADISE QUICK STOP, B & R BUILDING SUPPLY, PIT STOP TIRE AND LUBE, ROTHWELL MARINE, EL AGAVES, PAFFORD MEDICAL SERVICES, RED RIVER WRECKER SERVICE, SWS ENGRAVING, WALKER REALTY, MADLOCKS AUTO GLASS AND BODY SHOP, HOPE TIRE AND WHEEL, PIONEER PRINTERS-STATIONERS, JB COOK SUPPLY, DOWNTOWN OIL AND LUBE, LANDES 24 HOUR TOWING AND RECOVERY, RAZORBACK JACKS WOOD WORKING, BRAMLETT MOTORS, HEATHER MANOR, WESTERN AUTO ASSOCIATE STORE, NAIL SPA, HOPE OUTDOOR POWER AND EQUIPMENT, FIVE STAR AUTO SALES, B&L EXTERMATING, HOPE FLORAL, REESE’S TOWING AND AUTO REPAIR, RAE-TAYS, DOS LOS GRINGOS STAKHOUSE, MARTIN’S, HOPE HAVEN, SHEBA’S FAMILY RESTAURANT, BOOL WEEVIL PAWN, WYLIE GLASS AND SALAVAGE, STILLS AUTO SERVICE, STATE FARM INSURANCE HEATHER DOUCET AGENT, 13 BROTHERS MEAT MARKET, RAZORBACK TANZ, FRED KORENEK DIESEL REPAIR, TYSON’S FOOD INC, &BRAZZEL/OAKCREST THE FUNERAL HOME, EDDIE BRAZZEL, DIRECTOR