A Paw Paw, Michigan, family looked forward to a wonderful Christmas, but that holiday cheer was soon shattered. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office chose the Lucas family to participate in its annual Shop with a Sheriff program. Donald Lucas Jr., a single father of four, felt blessed as one of the few chosen families. But soon, he experienced heartache after finding more than $1,000 in gifts from the program had been stolen from his family’s home. When he learned who allegedly took them, it shocked him.
According to a news release from the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, Donald Lucas Sr., the children’s grandfather, stole all of the gifts for drug money. Lucas Sr. ended up in jail. But the community ensured his son and grandchildren would have a merry Christmas after all.
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The sheriff's office reportedly took multiple families shopping for Christmas.
Per a press release from December 12, 2024, the Van Buren County sheriff chose five families facing financial difficulties to shop for Christmas. This year, 17 children participated, including the Lucas kids.
“Every year we pick out families that are facing hardships and take them all shopping for Christmas presents and other needed items. Our School Resource Deputies choose the families that we can be with,” the release reads. “Money used was raised from our Reserve and Mounted Divisions as they donate it back for the shopping which is money earned from the fair and other events. Our partnership with Meijer South Haven matched the donations. This event is near and dear to a lot of us and is one event we look forward to doing every year.”
Shortly after the family's shopping spree, Donald Lucas Sr. allegedly stole their gifts.
Donald Lucas Jr. told Fox 17 he couldn’t believe what had happened.
“I was crying. I was breaking up crying over it,” he told the news outlet. “What am I going to do? I cannot believe that somebody would come and steal the gifts from the kids.”
He told Fox 17 he let his father stay with his family before the holidays but couldn’t believe he would steal from his own grandchildren.
Police arrested Donald Lucas Sr.
According to a news release, the narcotic unit arrested the grandfather during a drug investigation and found he allegedly stole the gifts to get drugs.
“It was found after the arrest that he had stolen all the Christmas gifts that our office bought for his 4 young grandchildren during Shop with the Sheriff and traded/sold them for meth. We were blessed enough to provide the family with all the gifts about a week prior. The grandfather would not cooperate with our office to get the grandchildren’s gifts back,” the sheriff’s office reported.
The community came together for the family.
The sheriff’s office worked with the Paw Paw Public School District to raise additional funds for the Lucas family, per Fox 17 .
“Paw Paw schools donated money, People donated money, Walmart gave us a gift card for money today.” Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott told the news station. “So, long story short, this community, our office, Paw Paw schools, stepped up big.”
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The moment touched the single father.
“I want to say, thank you, and Merry Christmas,” Donald Lucas Jr. told Fox 17. “And it just blew my mind. How many people stepped up to help us.”
He also took time to share his gratitude for the community in a Facebook post. He shared photos and videos of his kids creating thank you cards, writing, “Very exciting day for the kiddos. Thanks to everyone for all the support.”
