Holiday excitement filled the air as several children were taken on shopping sprees Sunday at the the west side Walmart on Merchant Mile.
There were 144 kids who benefited from Shop With A Cop, sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89. That’s down slightly from last year’s attendance.
All were allowed to choose up to $250 worth of items as they were escorted through the store by officers from the Columbus Police Department, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, the Indiana State Police and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
There was concern last week that illnesses and vacations might keep many law enforcement representatives from showing up for the event, FOP Lodge president Alan Trisler said. To his relief, about 50 officers were on hand for the charity.
Generally speaking, each child is allowed to spend between $60 to $70 on toys while the remainder is earmarked for clothing and other necessities to help them get through the winter. In addition, each child was sent home with a smoke detector.
Shop With A Cop strives to gain the trust of children, so the kids know that if they need help, they can count on an officer, Trisler said. For grade school students who want to talk or simply hang out with an adult, the FOP president hopes they understand an officer is always willing to listen.
While the FOP 89 Youth Program includes “Shop With A Cop,” Trisler says it also includes year-round programs that support early education and help disadvantaged families buy textbooks.
In addition, the youth program also assists children who lose personal items of value during emergency situations such as floods or house fires.
If you can help, checks can be mailed to the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89, P.O. Box 204, Columbus, IN, 47201. Donors are asked to write on the check that it is a contribution to “Shop With A Cop” or the “FOP 89 Youth Program.”
