Deputies take kids shopping

Austin Ledoux, of Grovetown, spent a day with a Columbia County sheriff's deputy and has the toys to prove it.

Austin, 11, spent Monday morning with Deputy Chris Burnett at the third annual Day With a Deputy event.

Day With a Deputy allows underprivileged children to shop for Christmas presents with deputies, said Deputy Eric Snowberger, the event's coordinator for a second year.

Area businesses donated money to allow 25 children to purchase $175 in goods for themselves and their families this year from the Wal-Mart in Martinez, Snowberger said.

"It gives us an opportunity to provide a Christmas for people who couldn't otherwise have a good Christmas," he said. "It gives us as law enforcement a chance to be the positive role model we want to be for kids."

Austin perused the aisles with Burnett and Elayne Miller. For a few dollars more than $175, he got a Georgia Bulldogs sweatshirt, two Star Wars DVDs, new sneakers, NCAA Football 2006 game for Playstation 2, some action figures and more.

When Burnett told Austin the total was slightly more than the gift card amount, Austin reached in his pocket to pull out some money, but Burnett told him to put it away.

"This is our treat to you," he said.

Each child also received a 6-foot lighted artificial Christmas tree and a box of ornaments from the sheriffs office to decorate their homes.

Snowberger said Augusta Urban Ministries found the children for this year's day, and it took a little more than a week to round up the sponsors and deputies to help.

Christian Smith, 7, of Grovetown, visited with his grandmother Linda Smith and shopped with Lt. Andy Shedd.

Above all the toys in Christian's buggy sat a soldier action figure, riding an ATV. Christian, a little shy, nodded and said it was his favorite.

"We really appreciate them doing this," Linda said.

"If you're not in the Christmas spirit already, it gets you there," Snowberger said.