Sixty-five children in Cumberland County had a brighter Christmas last week thanks to the efforts of Sheriff Darrell Hodges and the department’s annual Shop with a Deputy program.

The program — which is in its eighth year — allowed selected Cumberland youth to walk through Walmarts in Farmville and Powhatan and pick out what they wanted for Christmas.

The department works with the Cumberland County Elementary School staff to identify the students, said Hodges.

“What we do is we try to help kids. Maybe their families are struggling a little bit or maybe just need a helping hand. We try to take those kids Christmas shopping,” he said.

“Plus [this allows for] a more positive image of law enforcement. It’s a tough time right now for law enforcement, and anything you can do to get kids to see us in a more positive light is a good thing,” Hodges said.

The sheriff instituted the program when he was first elected eight years ago and has been organizing the program ever since.

“Ever since I’ve took office we’ve been doing it,” Hodges said. “We double check to make sure we’re not doubling up over [the Cumberland] Christmas Mother; that way we get as many kids as possible.”

Not only do deputies shop with the kids, but so do dispatchers and other sheriff’s office staff.

“We try to spend approximately $100 on each child. We did different fundraisers, but we had some really great private donations,” Hodges said.

He said the recipient families and kids are very appreciative. “It’s wonderful,” he said. “You get to see the expression on the kids and we had some great kids.”

Many of the children who take part in the program are more concerned about what to get their family members over their personal needs and wants, Hodges said.

“We make sure that if we have a family, just because the elementary school teachers are the ones who give us the names, we make sure if they have other kids that are older in the house. We make sure we take care of them too … We get all [the kids] in the family.”

The children are required to pick an outfit of clothes for themselves, Hodges said. They also are permitted to choose a gift for themselves.

Many picked movies, books and fishing poles, he said.

“A lot of times, deputies end up spending their own money,” Sgt. Mike Gordon said. “Everyone’s real appreciative. It makes you feel good as far as how you can go out in the community and they don’t look at you as an authority figure. They look at you as friends. That’ll be what the kids will remember.”

Gordon said, at first, the participating kids seem nervous when the shopping begins. “It’s going to be important as they grow up [that they see] the cops aren’t bad guys, especially with all the stuff we see in the news.”