A Paw Paw, Michigan , family looked forward to a wonderful Christmas, but that holiday cheer was soon shattered. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office chose the Lucas family to participate in its annual Shop with a Sheriff program. Donald Lucas Jr., a single father of four , felt blessed as one of the few chosen families. But soon, he experienced heartache after finding more than $1,000 in gifts from the program had been stolen from his family’s home. When he learned who allegedly took them, it shocked him.
According to a news release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, Donald Lucas Sr., the children’s grandfather, stole all of the gifts for drug money . Lucas Sr. ended up in jail. But the community ensured his son and grandchildren would have a merry Christmas after all.
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The sheriff’s office reportedly took multiple families shopping for Christmas.
Per a press release from December 12, 2024, the Van Buren County sheriff chose five families facing financial difficulties to shop for Christmas. This year, 17 children participated, including the Lucas kids.