🎄🎁👮♂️ Middle school students from across Buncombe County Schools spent Friday morning shopping, wrapping gifts, and building relationships with local law enforcement during the annual Shop with a Cop event, hosted in partnership with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and Walmart.
Each student had the opportunity to shop for gifts for themselves and their families. With lunch provided, gift-wrapping stations set up by Walmart, and entertainment including a magic show, the event created a festive and welcoming environment.
“We interact with kids every day, and this is part of breaking down barriers in the community,” said BCSO Sgt. Will Fisher. “It helps kids realize there’s more to an officer than just someone who shows up when something goes wrong.”
Sheriff Quentin Miller thanked SROs for organizing the big event. He also highlighted one of the most meaningful takeaways of the day. Many students chose to buy gifts for family members before selecting something for themselves, a powerful reminder of empathy, generosity, and character.
“It was humbling to see students buying gifts for their families before choosing anything for themselves,” he said. “That says a lot about who these kids are.”
All gifts were wrapped and delivered home with students the same day, with SROs helping ensure everything made it safely back to each school and family.
