By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — Several local law enforcement agencies are giving back this holiday season. 

The Rainsville Police Department (right) collaborated with Ider native Mycah Swift for the third annual Shop with a Cop. This year's goal was to help over 100 children.

Swift, an Ider native, had a vision of helping other children have joy at this time of year as well. Swift took this idea for “Shop with a Cop” to Chief Kevin Smith of the Rainsville Police Department and made it not just a reality, but a tradition. 

This year, the Rainsville Police Department, along with deputies from the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and Sylvania Police Department, received enough donations to purchase Christmas presents for 101 DeKalb County children. 

In their second year of the program, the Fort Payne Police Department (left) bought presents for many Fort Payne children this Christmas. 

"This program has grown in the last two years and we hope to keep growing it in 2020," said Fort Payne Police Chief Randy Bynum. "I'd like to give special thanks to our project chairman David Barnes, who did a fantastic job raising funds and coordinating the project this year." 

At this time of year, it is important for us to stow away all of the bad headlines from across the globe and come together.