The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up for the holiday season and asking for the community’s help to support its annual Christmas programs, which benefit hundreds of local children in need.
Each year, the sheriff’s office assists approximately 600 to 800 children through its various holiday outreach initiatives. Families in need are identified through recommendations from friends, neighbors, and family members, as well as by deputies who encounter struggling families while on patrol. Once a family is identified, the sheriff’s office contacts the parents to determine their specific wants and needs, fulfilling lists with purchased clothing and toys that are either donated or bought using community funds.
A major highlight of the seasonal outreach is the “Kids, Cops & Christmas” program. In coordination with the Sumter County School Board and The Villages Charter Schools, the sheriff’s office selects about 400 children to participate. Children and their siblings meet with deputies at Walmart on a prearranged date, where the agency spends approximately $100 per child to ensure they receive necessary items like clothing, shoes, and school supplies…