Cops help fulfill dreams

With so many people across the country so obsessed with the need to go shopping during the Christmas season, it sometimes takes just a little reminder to show them what's truly important this time of year.

On a icy Saturday morning, hundreds of volunteers braved the weather and took time out of their hectic schedules to bring a miracle of sorts to a group of Mountain Home children.

For the past 13 years, law enforcement officers and patrolmen joined forces with others in the local area to bring Christmas to these children during the community's shop-with-a-cop program.

In turn, these children -- some as young as age 7 -- showed these volunteers the true meaning of the holidays.

Once a year, local law enforcement officers collect thousands of dollars to benefit as many children as possible during the yearly observance. The shop-with-a-cop program gives these youngsters a limited amount of money to shop for both themselves and their families. It fills their stockings and puts presents under their trees despite their family's meager earnings.

Despite the temptation to shop for themselves, many of the children spent most their time -- and money -- shopping for the rest of their families. In some cases, their adult chaperones had to encourage their "adopted children" to shop for themselves after they'd spent most of their money filling their carts with gifts for their fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters.

These youngsters understand that Dec. 25 isn't about themselves. It's not about making long lists of gifts and waiting to receive them. It's about seeing the look on someone's face when you hand them something wrapped in bright, shiny paper, knowing you've made a big difference in your own, small way.

It meant perhaps even more for military members stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base. It gave these Airmen, many single, a chance to relive a piece of their childhood and remember the simple pleasures of a child wandering through the aisles of toys, knowing something special waited for them on Christmas Day. They included a young girl hugging a stuffed dog -- something she likely hoped for a long time to one day call her own.

And when the gift cards ran dry, the spirit of giving filled the void. Volunteers often dug deep into their wallets and purses and ensured their children had enough money to cover everything they hoped to buy.

Children these volunteers never knew until that frosty December morning. As they waited following their day of shopping, the volunteers admitted they could never put into words how they felt knowing their small offer of help meant so much to so many. Perhaps the smiles and tears of joy on the faces of the children's parents said it best. It illustrated enormous gratitude and the debt of kindness these families know they could never repay with money.

As people struggle under the nation's financial crisis, seeing so many people generously give so much to help others with so little meant more than all the presents you could ever find beneath a Christmas tree.

It meant a child could dream of ribbons and bows, knowing they would see something under their tree on Dec. 25.

It allowed families to use what little money they have to concentrate on putting food on their table versus worrying about putting presents under the tree.

It allowed people from across our community to rekindle some Christmas magic and remember once again what it's like to be a child.

It demonstrated how much compassion people in their community can extend to those most in need knowing these people can never repay this type of debt.

It showed just how unselfish a child can be if given time and attention needed to help their families.

It meant children could be children and dream as only children can dream.