Last year, the Shop with a Sheriff event provided more than 20 children with money to spend on themselves and family members. This year, more than 30 children will be selected to participate in the event. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — The Chenango County Sheriff's Office and the Chenango County Law Enforcement Association are holding their sixth annual Shop with a Sheriff event on Saturday, December 18. More than 30 children within the Chenango County school districts will be selected to receive $200 to spend at the Norwich Walmart.

"What we do is, we raise funds that are donated by community businesses, individuals, and our own money that we raise, money that we donate from our own pockets," said Chenango County Sheriff's Office Detective and Union President Chad O'Hara. "We reach out to the schools, we have the schools select kids that are in need or deserving of joining the event."

On the day of the event, participating children will be paired with a Sheriff's Deputy who will take them shopping.

"We pick a day in December to do it. Each kid is provided with $200 that they can spend on themselves," said O'Hara. "The morning of the event, which is, this year it's going to be December 18, they're going to be paired up with a Road Patrol Deputy, and we'll go down to the local Walmart and go shopping with the kids."

The Shop with a Sheriff event first began in 2016, and was spearheaded by a Sheriff's Deputy and Detective Sergeant Gary Miller.