There's little guys (and gals) and big guys (and gals)......
There's little guys (and gals) that go to school daily, see their buds with really nifty Pokemon, Disney or Marvel themed lunch boxes - complete with a matching Thermos, compartments for cold items, cookies, yada, the whole ball'a wax in yum.
The little guys (and gals) who eyeball these, oft times bring their lunch in a paper bag (goodies inside proudly packed by a mom or a dad), and sure, they're thankful for their yummy stuff........... but just once........ just once........
Oft times, these same little guys (and gals) come to school looking tired.. maybe in need of a haircut... wearing Wednesday what they wore Tuesday, passing it off as "it's my favorite outfit."
Some, little guys (and gals) can be pretty cruel in teasing, making fun of, at, some little guys (and gals) and, it ain't nuttin' they did, nor, any fault of their own.
Some years ago, as Bruce Springsteen likes to sing, "In My Hometown" the local police department intercepted an ongoing con game and confiscated an IPad. It was deemed it came from 'Wally.' The contacted 'Wally', 'Wally' said "Nope, not ours, try 'Wally,com', did, 'Wally.com' said "Yeah it's ours but we don't want it back."
Steps in Police Officer, for story-sake, let's call him "DD"... "Hey, I know. I've had this idea. Christmas time, there's kids (little guys, and gals) that are less fortunate... howabout we raise some funds, tell 'em we're gonna take 'em to 'Wally' just before Christmas... they can pickout two items for themselves, then, they can buy something for their brothers, sisters, mom, dad. We'll fetch 'em back to the Station, have wrapping paper there (as well as several boxes of hot pizza).. help 'em wrap 'em, then, have our In My Hometown Access bus take them home to surprise their family.
So, they did. That IPad? They raffled it off, and thus began 'In My Hometown''s now annual Shop With A Cop.
One of the big guys (and gals) told me, "Sometimes, the kids go a tad over their limit of funds, and the officers pull out their billfolds, purses, to take care of the rest. It's really fun to be a part of, and amazing for the kids, families, AND us!"
Yesterday... 73 men sailed out.. on that............. wait.. that ain't it.
Yesterday... 66 big guys (and gals) gathered... to supplement bake sales, donations and raffles... they participated/donated/played in their "Hometown" Townie Invitational Golf Tourney.. this was the 4th year for the gathering, but last year, it was decided "Hey, let's add a few bucks for the "My (our) Hometown Shop With A Cop program... did.. they pitched in.... $640 was raised. No, not a lot, but, something.
Prior to 66 big guy (and gals) gathering, local My (Our) Hometown merchants donated gift certificates for dinners, golf, t shirts, yada... to award as hole prizes for the 66 big guys (and gals) and a fair amount were displayed on a table for a Silent Auction. Their goal was to "at least double" last years $640. (In fact, they doubled the portion of their entry fee that goes directly to Shop With A Cop).
One of the golfers donated 124 half pound hot dogs for the big guys and gals lunch.. three non-golfers but really good guys and cooks, heated 'em up. The town where the golf course is (next town over from My (Our) Hometown, bent over backwards to accomodate, 'man' the collection tables, beverage cart, display the scores of golfers in a fancified thingy that put them on the Big Screen TV for all to see.
Folks bid, and bid, and bid for the items in the Silent Auction. All of the tips from the 66 big guys (and gals) from the beverage cart... a dollar a 'soda pop'.. .all went into that green money bag for My (Our) Hometown's Shop With A Cop program.
Throughout the day, dropped buckaroo after buckaroo ($5's,$10's, $20's.... "Here, we finished in 3rd place, we're donating it back"... a guy hands over $50, says "thanks!"... another, "$40.. yet others, more. A beautiful 80 year old lady that plays every day, wasn't in the tourney, yet, slipped a Twenty in an envelope and wrote "Have fun, for the Shop With A Cop Tourney."
Lo and behold.......... a couple of Policemen (a guy and a gal) showed up at the end to speak about the program, say thanks, and fetch the funds back to the Shop With A Cop director.
The goal of doubling last year's total was smashed... more to count, but it's going to be closer to quadrupling.
LOOK AT WHAT YA DONE STARTED "DD", and we, Our Hometown, couldn't be prouder.
Somebody call the cops......... tell 'em, "Hey, in addition to your Shop With A Cop program, thanks for EVERYTHING you do, day in, day out.
In Our Hometown.........in Our Hometown.....
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