‘Shop with a Cop’
‘Shop with a Cop’
West Memphis Police Department takes kids on a spending spree just in time for the holidays
news@theeveningtimes.com
A combined community effort served to make Christmas brighter for both cops and kids. Shop with a Cop was a three part adventure that ended with Steudlein students between the ages of 3-5 getting a cart load of toys. In all 60 children sacked toys and gifts valued at nearly $7,000. The West Memphis Police Department, Walmart, Pizza Pro and the Rotary club came together to make the special day.
Rotarians put out the breakfast spread at Steudlein for local law enforcement just to say thank you for your service. The first smiles of the day dawned around the table as West Memphis’ finest, and a state trooper and deputies chowed down together to kick off the day.
They shuttled from the school to Walmart where the traditional shop with a cop took place. The WMPD raised money throughout the year. Many officers paid a $100 toward the Christmas cause during no shave November and raised most of the money for the shopping sprees.
Walmart backed the shopping with donated gift certificates and even covered more when the kids went over budget a bit.
“No one wanted to ask a kid to put something back,” said Captain Joe Baker.
In all 60 kids were escorted by a cop through Walmart. Kids came in three waves of 20 on the school bus.
Cops pushed the carts up and down the toy aisles with wide eyed pre-schoolers gawking at the huge toy assortment. Don’t think it was a day off from school or just a really cool field trip. Cops and school helpers were queued up to make it a verbalization exercise for the tikes. The group shopping took about two hours to complete.
Walmart employees were all smiles and helped in the aisles with price checks and finding that just right toy.
Some of the little ones were thinking of others during their shopping trip.
“It’s really heart-warming to see,” said Baker. “Some of the kids were buying stuff for their brothers or sisters and thinking about everyone else.”
Paw Patrol, all sorts of cars, assorted princesses characters and dolls, balls, and stuffed animals filled the gift bags that were as big as Santa’s pack.
The final stage of the day was a course of lunch delivered by Tommy Martin of Pizza Pro in Marion.
Steudlein students picnicked in circles on the gym floor and ate all they wanted. The cops did too.
Rusty the WMPD mascot made the rounds offering high five’s to anyone willing to play.
And, a cart load of smiles, every participant took away.
By John Rech
