Extreme Makeover: Suggs featured for work with Shop with Cops program

Derrick Suggs was featured for his help with the Shop with Cops program in this article on Dec. 17, 2009 article written by Peggie Mishoe.

In North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach and western Horry County, kids went Christmas shopping with police officers and other volunteers Dec. 12.

The events, patterned after the Shop with Cops program, are designed to help underprivileged children.

Some Horry County police officers have shopped with kids for nine years, but this was the first year the West Precinct had Christmas for Children.

"Police officers are very friendly, and they help our community," said Ja'Reizz Grate, 7, of Loris, as he stood in a check-out line at a Wal-Mart.

As he waited for PFC Derrick Suggs of the West Precinct to pay, Ja'Reizz said he was sure he was going to get what he wanted most for Christmas.

"I had wanted a nice family Christmas with my family," he said.

Of all the items Ja'Reizz purchased, his favorite was a stuffed bear with a blanket that he got for his mother. "This is her birthday present. Her birthday was in November and I didn't give her nothing for her birthday," he said.

Suggs and his wife, Amanda Suggs, shopped with Ja'Reizz, Abigail Birch, 9, of Aynor, and two other kids.

"I had a lot of fun, and I got a lot of stuff," Abigail said.

Abigail bought toys, but her favorite purchases were a red-and-black dress and a pair of red shoes.

"They're for when I go to school or church," she said.

"We have five children of our own, and I think it's very important for a child to have what they need and some of what they want," Amanda Suggs said.

Each of the 26 children got $100 for shopping.

"I tried to stretch it as far as I could, but if I've got to pay some, I'll pay some," Suggs said.

"It makes the job worthwhile when you get to do stuff like this and see the smiles on their faces," said PFC Tim Fike, with the Horry County Police Department.

After shopping, the kids were taken by bus to Rehobeth United Methodist Church where they had lunch with their families, met Santa and received a complete Christmas dinner to take home.

Other Horry County Police Department precincts had already shopped with kids in the different communities or plan to shop on Saturday.

The North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department held Shop with a Cop, Winter Wonderland, which began at Fire Station 1. About 50 kids had breakfast and were paired with public safety officials or volunteers. They shopped at a Wal-Mart and returned to the fire station to have lunch, wrap their presents and get gifts from Santa.

Myrtle Beach police officers and firefighters shopped with 32 kids in the annual Joe McGarry Foundation Santa's Helpers program, which began after Officer Joe McGarry, 28, was shot and killed while on duty on Dec. 29, 2002.

"He loved children. He loved the community, and he loved the department," said investigator Suzan Gardner.

Each child was allowed $200 to shop at Target and was required to spend half of it on clothes. East of Chicago Pizza provided a free lunch, and then they went back to the Police Department, where they met Santa. "Everybody left with a smile on their face, including the officers and the firefighters, so I'd say it was a success," Gardner said.