Gloucester Sheriff’s Office Investigator Steve Perry has taken the reins of the GSO’s Shop With A Cop program and hopes to help bring a merry Christmas to about 100 needy Gloucester children in December.

The SWAC program was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is back to gearing up for the holiday this fall. “We’re back to full normal operations this year,” said Perry. “Last year, the program was suspended, but we still targeted eight to 10 needy families and did something special for each of them.”

“This year, we’re hoping to take about 100 kids shopping on Saturday, Dec. 11,” Perry said. “We’ll begin accepting applications around the first of October through about mid-November. Our focus will be on school-age children and other Gloucester County residents that could use the help.”

Perry said SWAC fundraising is going well so far and that the 9½ Annual SWAC Golf Tournament planned for Oct. 8 at the Piankatank Golf Club, an always fun and popular event, is already sold out. He said Primis Bank and Jeff Wine at JW’s Car Wash have been a big help with the tournament’s success.

Perry also said that the annual SWAC 50/50 raffle got underway on Monday and tickets are $5 each. He said only 2,000 tickets will be sold and he anticipates that the raffle will also sell out. Tickets are available at Kelsick Market, The Baxter Insurance Group, Peasley Middle School teacher Casey Perry, Gloucester High School SRO Lt. J.J. Petrowicz and SRO Amanda Billups.

Perry said GSO deputies and other community members are also helping to sell tickets, and that other businesses and residents who are interested in helping the cause can message the SWAC Facebook page to offer their assistance. He said the winning ticket will be drawn on Facebook Live on Dec. 3.

GHS NJROTC members are raising funds for SWAC, Perry said, as are members of the Middle Peninsula Classic Cruisers and the Gloucester Moose Lodge. He said a Scentsy representative is also donating a portion of her sales on the SWAC Facebook page and that donations can be made directly to SWAC, a nonprofit charitable organization, can be made at the page.

Perry also credited Walmart manager Rick Helton for his assistance. “Without his buying in, the program wouldn’t exist,” Perry said of the manager that allows the young shoppers and their SWAC escorts into his store for their holiday shopping.

In addition, Perry thanked his SWAC officers for their support. They include SWAC Treasurer and GSO administrative assistant Jamie Williams, SWAC Vice Chairman and GSO deputy Kyrstin Shackelford and SWAC Secretary and Perry’s wife, Casey Perry.

Perry said he hopes to raise $25,000 or $30,000 for SWAC this year. “The more money I have, the more I can do. We’re looking to both help kids that need it at Christmas and foster positive interactions with law enforcement. We want to provide temporary assistance for those who truly need it.”