SEBASTIAN — Sebastian’s Riverview Park is at its best on the days when it’s filled with people of all ages enjoying themselves for a good cause. The annual Christmas in July fundraiser Saturday was one of those days, with the community coming together to raise money for December’s Shop with a Cop event.
Each December, city and county law enforcement officers are paired with underprivileged kids for an hour of Christmas shopping, made possible with funds raised throughout the year.
While the weather was decidedly not Christmassy, the spirit certainly was! Giant Christmas stockings hung from palm and oak trees, and along the winding, shaded sidewalks, the tables and tents of businesses, organizations and agencies offered Christmas gift ideas, useful information and goodies. There was also an enticing silent auction and a raffle to boost the fund-raising.
Some of the participants had gone all out, displaying decorated Christmas trees that glowed with an early holiday spirit. The fluffy white Christmas tree at the H.A.L.O. animal rescue tent sparkled with unusual but appropriate decorations – purple glitter dog bones and purple mice.
Tangie Russell and Kathy Leck, owners of a just-opened salon in Sebastian, had created a clever “mostly recycled” tree out of old lumber and Spanish moss, with the “star” on top made from a pair of hair brushes.
“We really want to be part of the community and support causes like Christmas in July for Shop with a Cop,” said Leck.
The Very Special Guest, Santa Claus himself, arrived with fanfare and sirens aboard a Sebastian Police Department cruiser, with horsepower substituting for reindeer-power. Santa, channeled by Edward Johnson, sported a full, authentic beard, and had dressed appropriately for the July heat in Bermuda shorts, Hawaiian shirt, Panama hat and sandals.
The long line of little ones didn’t miss the standard Santa uniform in the least, happily hopping onto Santa’s lap to share their secret wishes and smile for phone snaps taken by moms and dads. Little 7-month-old Selina Mesinor cuddled happily in Santa’s arms, knowing mom Kwatisha Shelly was nearby.
DJ SHHH-OP kept the tunes going as Miss Tina (Ioffredo) and her exuberant Sebastian Has Hip Hop troop busted moves, joined by a bunch of kids and a few brave adults, including a favorite law enforcement officer and “mover and shaker” – Sheriff’s Deputy Teddy Floyd.
Toddler Ian Johnston sat on Valerie White’s lap, intently watching his sister Paityn Jackson, one of the Hip Hop dancers. As Miss Tina shot a great flurry of faux snow out over the crowd, Skyler Wolack, 6, rushed up to her uncle, Shawn Durrant, to gleefully show him the handful of “snowflakes” she had captured.
Enjoying the dancers, young mom Crystal Collins sported some impressive ink art on her back – the names of her three children, Kaleb, Khloe and Kayne, along with precisely inked reproductions of their newborn footprints under each name.
Sebastian Police Chief Michelle Morris and her officers and IRC Sheriff Deryl Loar with his deputies all mingled with the crowd, happy to see the turnout that would help underprivileged children have an especially merry Christmas through Shop with a Cop.
On a special day in December, the Sebastian Wal-Mart will welcome young shoppers, ages 5 to 17 from throughout the county, chosen through an application process, who are given a $100 gift certificate to shop with a law enforcement partner. Embracing the spirit of giving, the officers have found that the children are often so excited to buy gifts for their parents and siblings that they have to be reminded to choose something for themselves, too.
