SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — When two young girls walked into a variety store here Tuesday, instead of focusing on rewarding themselves with toys, one was determined to get a Christmas gift for her mother, while the other chose basic toiletries for her family.

The two girls were among 200 children receiving support from the St Elizabeth police, and who told varying stories about the hardship faced by their families following Hurricane Melissa’s October 28 rampage across sections of the island.

Superintendent Coleridge Minto was emotional as he led a team of police to purchase gifts for the children in the third-consecutive year of the ‘Shop with a Cop’ initiative.

“I was looking forward to it this year, because we lost our home, and now that we are here it helps me to get my mind off things, [like] what is going on at home,” 16-year-old Black River High School student Naomi Anderson told the Jamaica Observer. “Superintendent Minto helped us during our difficulties, and even sent water to my family, helping us with many things. I just want to big up the entire police force. I am trying to get a gift for my mommy this year again. Just something simple, nothing much, because we are grateful.”

Minto, the head of the St Elizabeth police division, said the other girl chose to get hygiene products after having a conversation with her mother.

“A number of the children picked up things like toys, dolls, things that children [would gravitate to]. My heart was almost moved to tears when I saw one young lady picking up some normal things like toothpaste, tissue, and she said these are the things that ‘mommy ask me to pick up’, which tells you really that they are in need of various things,” he said.

“So beyond the Christmas shopping for toys and those items, there are some persons who really need additional support, and so we are happy that we are able to assist in a small way,” he added.

Wendy Dwyer-Simpson, a resident of Elim near Braes River in St Elizabeth, was among the parents whose children benefited from the Christmas treat. She credited Superintendent Minto and the Jamaica Constabulary Force high command for staging the initiative.

“After what we have been through, this is a joy. My housetop came off and my children lost some shoes. Fortunately God blessed the Police Commissioner [Dr Kevin Blake] that he could do this treat for the children so that my children could get shoes and clothes,” she said.

“I really do appreciate everything that you are doing for the children, we love it a lot and we hope it can happen for many more years,” she told Minto.

Chavelle Taylor, a resident of Black River, brought her three children.

“I am so grateful, because the money that I [planned] to spend I didn’t have to spend it again, so I can keep that to do something else. I got a lot for them. I want to praise Superintendent Minto and the rest of the team,” she said, pointing to her children’s happy faces.

“They are so happy. They can choose what they want, they don’t have to say ‘Mommy, this is the one I want,’ or I say ‘This is the one I can afford,’ and I am so grateful,” she said while pointing out that the toys are good for recreation as her house is still without electricity.

Javaughn Carter, a worker at Chen Top Price variety store in Fern Village Plaza, Santa Cruz, translating for his employer Hua Ying Zhu, said Tuesday’s initiative was part of an annual collaboration with the St Elizabeth police.

“It is a wonderful feeling to just see that we are giving back to society based on what we have been through and the disaster that has happened since year,” he said, adding that the items in the store had been discounted.

Minto said the need for Christmas cheer through activities like Tuesday’s treat is important to bring hope to families, especially children.

“Many of the children are from homes that were damaged during Hurricane Melissa and so it is a pleasure that they are able to come out and enjoy this type of activity with their parents and guardians. Approximately 200 children from various communities across the parish have joined us today with this initiative. We are pleased with the turnout. It is, by far, the largest number of children that we have seen over the three-year period and I suspect it will get bigger and better each year,” Minto said, while commending sponsors for their support.

Among the sponsors was St Elizabeth businessman Dwayne Howard Williams, proprietor of Top Rated Automotive Limited in Kingsland, Manchester.

“We have been doing this for over three years and it is a real good feeling treating over 200 children today. We bought a lot of gifts for the children, including back-to-school items,” Williams said.

The children were also treated at Santa Cruz Police Station to food and playtime in a bounce-a-bout.

Head of the St Elizabeth police Superintendent Coleridge Minto (right) engages a group of children ahead of the ‘Shop with a Cop’ Christmas treat in Santa Cruz on Tuesday. (Photos: Kasey Williams)

Head of the St Elizabeth police Superintendent Coleridge Minto (left) looks on as a little boy pushes a trolley filled with toys during Tuesday’s ‘Shop with a Cop’ Christmas treat. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

Head of the St Elizabeth police Superintendent Coleridge Minto (left) gives a high five to nine-year-old Rojauhn Blackwood during the ‘Shop with a Cop’ Christmas treat in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth on Tuesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

Head of the St Elizabeth police Superintendent Coleridge Minto (left) listens to nine-year-old Rojauhn Blackwood talk about a toy car during the ‘Shop with a Cop’ Christmas treat in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth on Tuesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

Sixteen-year-old Naomi Anderson speaking with the Jamaica Observer during the ‘Shop with a Cop’ Christmas treat in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth on Tuesday while head of the St Elizabeth police Superintendent Coleridge Minto listens.

Chavelle Taylor, a resident of Black River, brought her three children to Tuesday’s activities and was overjoyed.