December 20, 2014

The contest – an opportunity to spend a day hunting and fishing with the Chester County Sheriff – appeared tailor-made for the 9-year-son of a single mother with health problems.

So when a family friend told Alex Collins about the competition, he responded enthusiastically – as did his mother, Leslie Collins, and his fourth-grade teacher at Fern Hill Elementary, Jason A. Thompson.

All three wrote heart-tugging letters to the Chester County Sheriff. The teacher waxed eloquent about the boy’s character and the personal obstacles he’d overcome, suggesting that if anyone deserves this outing, Alex does. His mother noted that her chronic heart condition and limited finances deprive her son of many opportunities.

Finally, Alex wrote: “I really want to go hunting with you. I don’t have anyone to teach me. It’s just me and my mom, and she’s too sick to do stuff … I think you are really nice to do this. I hope you pick me to go.”

When Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh’s staff received the poignant letters, they were initially mystified: What contest? Then an unwelcome geography lesson intervened. The letters were addressed to Sheriff Underwood, whose correct address is Chester County, South Carolina.

But Welsh wasn’t ready to let nearly 600 miles dash the boy’s dreams. Besides, the Pennsbury Township resident happened to know and admire her counterpart in South Carolina; she had been assigned to mentor the first-term sheriff, whose first name coincidentally matched the boy’s, at the National Sheriffs’ Institute in Colorado in September.

Welsh said she picked up the phone and explained the situation to Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood. His response was immediate: If Welsh could arrange to get the boy to South Carolina, he’s be happy to spend a day hunting with him.”

“Let’s make this happen,” Welsh said, prompting an outpouring of assistance from her staff. Chief Deputy George P. March said he would cover the airfare, and several deputies offered to escort the boy to the airport, Welsh said.

Welsh said she contacted the boy’s mother, who was overjoyed to hear about the plan. She emailed Welsh after she broke the news to Alex, now known in the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Office as “Little A.”

“Alex is so excited!” Leslie Collins wrote. “I’ve never seen such a look on his face as I did today when I explained to him what was going on! Seeing him this happy and excited is the best Christmas gift I could’ve ever received! So, once again, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

So early on Dec. 29, “Little A” will receive a law-enforcement escort to the airport, where he will board a plane for the first time. Deputies from South Carolina will meet him when he arrives about 9 a.m., Welsh said. She said “Big A” first plans to take the boy shopping for hunting attire.

Welsh said March and a captain from Underwood’s office had partnered to coordinate all the details. She said the boy would spend the night at the home of Underwood and his wife, Angel Underwood, a magistrate judge. The fourth-grader is scheduled to fly back to Philadelphia the next day, she said.

Citing the serendipitous nature of the events, Welsh said she’s thrilled and amazed that everything worked out. “One of the jokes in Colorado was the fact that the two sheriffs from Chester County were so different,” the blonde, five-foot-six sheriff said, citing Underwood’s six-foot-five frame and dark features.

“He’s a big man with an even bigger heart,” Welsh said.

Leslie Collins would agree. She said it never occurred to her that Chester County might not necessarily refer to her community. “For being a mistake, it certainly worked out well,” she said.