'Cops For Kids' Christmas Shopping Program Under Way in Paulding

DALLAS, GA — It's just past Thanksgiving, but there's still time to get involved in the 2016 Paulding County Sheriff's Office "Cops For Kids" Christmas shopping event.

Now in its 18th year, the event takes underprivileged children who live in Paulding County and pairs each of them with a deputy to go shopping at Christmas.

This year's event will take place Saturday, December 10, at 7 a.m. at the Walmart on Marietta Highway.

Requirements to register a child for the event include:

• Proof of residence in Paulding County (utility bill, phone bill, etc.)
• Photo ID
• Proof of income (EBT, WIC, TANF paperwork)
• Birth certificate for each child

Cops for kids targets children ages 8-13, "in an effort to promote positive interaction with the young people of Paulding County and the sheriff's office," the office said in a news release.

Siblings younger than 8 and older than 13 will no longer be accepted to the program. Also, families who have participated in Cops For Kids for the past two years will not be eligible to participate in 2016.

Registration will be held every Tuesday evening in November, inside the lobby of the Paulding County Sheriff's Office, from 6-7:30 p.m.

That's November 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and applicants are asked to not enter the lobby until registration begins at 6 p.m.

The sheriff's office is located at 247 Industrial Way North in Dallas.

Here are the income guidelines to be eligible for Cops For Kids:

Family size: 2 Monthly income: $1,549

Family size: 3 Monthly income: $2,008

Family size: 4 Monthly income: $2,422

Family size: 5 Monthly income: $2,836

Family size: 6 Monthly income: $3,249

Family size: 7 Monthly income: $3,663

Family size: 8 Monthly income: $4,077

Family size: 9 Monthly income: $4,491

Family size: 10 Monthly income: $4,905

($414 for each additional member)

Anyone with questions about Cops For Kids may contact Lieutenant Tracy Parker at (770) 443-3016.

Photos courtesy Paulding County Sheriff's Office