Brookhaven Shop with a Badge

Saturday, December 13, 2014

I woke up before the sunrise this past Saturday to witness acts of kindness. The Brookhaven Police Department teamed up with Target and the Brookhaven Boys & Girls Club to give 41 needy children a chance to go Christmas shopping for their families. The kids were paired up with officers from the department and were given $200 to buy presents either for themselves or their family members. Santa made an appearance and there were opportunities for the kids to make Christmas ornaments and thank you cards as well as a gift wrapping station so they wouldn’t have to ruin the surprise of what they got for their family. I was particularly moved to see a 17-year-old named Kingston pushing a shopping cart with a Christmas tree in it for his family. They didn’t have one this year until now. The first of hopefully many years, the Brookhaven Shop with a Badge event was a smashing success.

Haidee Quechol (left) her mother Beatrice and sister Kayla walk inside before the start of the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Haidee Quechol (left) her mother Beatrice and sister Kayla walk inside before the start of the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police Maj. Linda Burke (left), Katerina Vassileva and Dulce Ballin look at Katerina's wish list as they shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police Maj. Linda Burke (left), Katerina Vassileva and Dulce Ballin look at Katerina’s wish list as they shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Joshua Alaman (right) shops with Brookhaven dispatcher Shannon Parham as Melissa Cambron passes by with dispatcher Yolanda Chandler during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Joshua Alaman (right) shops with Brookhaven dispatcher Shannon Parham as Melissa Cambron passes by with dispatcher Yolanda Chandler during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Soleil Jarrett (right) picks out a doll as she shops with Brookhaven Police Det. Johnny Alemany during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Soleil Jarrett (right) picks out a doll as she shops with Brookhaven Police Det. Johnny Alemany during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police Lt. Eric Silveus (left) and Jessenia Segura look at her wish list as they shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police Lt. Eric Silveus (left) and Jessenia Segura look at her wish list as they shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police Maj. Linda Burke (right) points out a pair of size two shoes to Dulce Ballin as they shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police Maj. Linda Burke (right) points out a pair of size two shoes to Dulce Ballin as they shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven dispatcher Harrison Siegfried (left) helps Fernanda Valdez pick out clothes during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven dispatcher Harrison Siegfried (left) helps Fernanda Valdez pick out clothes during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Joshua Alaman (left) tries to decide which LEGO sets to buy as he shops with Brookhaven dispatcher Shannon Parham during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Joshua Alaman (left) tries to decide which LEGO sets to buy as he shops with Brookhaven dispatcher Shannon Parham during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police Ofc. Drake Ford (left) and Ashlyn Moody look at her wish list as they shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police Ofc. Drake Ford (left) and Ashlyn Moody look at her wish list as they shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Kingston Handley (left) leaves the Christmas tree he picked out for his family as he continues to shop with Brookhaven dispatcher Stephanie Thompson during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Kingston Handley (left) leaves the Christmas tree he picked out for his family as he continues to shop with Brookhaven dispatcher Stephanie Thompson during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police K-9 officer Grizz looks around as Ofc. Patrick Dicicco and Alan Reyes continue to shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Brookhaven Police K-9 officer Grizz looks around as Ofc. Patrick Dicicco and Alan Reyes continue to shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Santa Claus waves to Haidee Quechol (left) as she stands in line with Brookhaven dispatcher Myrianna Butler during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Santa Claus waves to Haidee Quechol (left) as she stands in line with Brookhaven dispatcher Myrianna Butler during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Joshua Alaman (center) takes gifts out of the shopping cart that he and Brookhaven dispatcher Shannon Parham (left) picked out for his family as Torraine Anglin rings up the purchases during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Joshua Alaman (center) takes gifts out of the shopping cart that he and Brookhaven dispatcher Shannon Parham (left) picked out for his family as Torraine Anglin rings up the purchases during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Marleen Tomlinson (right) helps wrap presents for Adonis Reyes (left) as Brookhaven Police Ofc. John Clifford places more gifts on the table during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Marleen Tomlinson (right) helps wrap presents for Adonis Reyes (left) as Brookhaven Police Ofc. John Clifford places more gifts on the table during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Blaga Djordjev (center) helps wrap presents during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Blaga Djordjev (center) helps wrap presents during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Denisse Rocha (left) helps Brookhaven Police Maj. Juan Grullon wrap a present she bought for her family during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Denisse Rocha (left) helps Brookhaven Police Maj. Juan Grullon wrap a present she bought for her family during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Angelina Ward (right) makes a Christmas ornament during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Angelina Ward (right) makes a Christmas ornament during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Dulce Ballin (right) plays with her newly made Christmas ornament during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Dulce Ballin (right) plays with her newly made Christmas ornament during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Melissa Ballin writes a thank you note to the Brookhaven police officer who helped her shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.

Melissa Ballin writes a thank you note to the Brookhaven police officer who helped her shop during the first annual Brookhaven Police Shop with a Badge event at the Target off of North Druid Hills in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, 2014.