MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The Myrtle Beach Police Department and Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue are competing in a friendly selfie war to raise money to buy underprivileged children presents for Christmas.
Officers from the Myrtle Beach Police Department and firefighters and EMT’s from Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue have been manning a booth at the Dickens Christmas Show at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, dressed in Victorian costumes since Thursday.
For every photo that the city’s first responders take with a person at the show, Sticky Fingers Restaurant will donate $1 for Shop with a Hero. Both departments will then use the money they raised to take underprivileged children Christmas shopping in December.
“These kids wouldn’t normally have a Christmas. They’re the kids that go without; their parents can’t afford a Christmas. We like to step up and show the community that we do care about our kids and the community, and we raise this money to help those kids out,” Brian Welch, an officer for the Myrtle Beach Police Department said.
“Sometimes it’s difficult (for some families to buy Christmas presents) each year. Maybe someone fell on hard times and they wouldn’t be able to provide for their children that year. We want to make sure everybody has a good time,” Lt. Jonathan Evans with Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue said. “It also gives us a chance to meet them on a non-emergency basis and get used to them with us and get them more comfortable so they can see us as friends and not as somebody who’s only there when there’s a bad thing.”
Last year, the first responders raised around $3,000 for Shop with a Hero. This year, they’re hoping to reach or surpass that amount.
The city’s police and fire departments will be at the Dickens Christmas Show in Myrtle Beach until Sunday, Nov. 11. For more information about the show, click here.
