Cops and community come together for Christmas cheer
About 50 police officers, some accompanied by their spouses, and other members of the Fraternal Order of Police took 67 children Christmas shopping at the Jasper Walmart today.
The annual event, Cops for Kids (formerly known as Shop with a Cop), is sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police and supported through donations by businesses, individuals, and organizations.
“Private citizens have been awesome. Every day I have gone to work for the past two weeks, I have had checks in my mailbox,” Jasper Officer Adam Bower said. “It’s a great feeling.”
According to Bower, besides the community members who donated, the Dubois County Community Foundation gifted $3,500 and Walmart donated $2,500 to the event this year. “We may have about $8,000 that was raised this year,” he said.
According to the local Fraternal Order of Police chapter president Stuart Wilson, in the past the FOP has had to pick up the tab for a large portion of the event. “It is great that we have had this support this year,” he said. “And the money will be available to support a year when funds are a little tighter.”
The 50 volunteers and their spouses came from all the Dubois County law enforcement departments, the Indiana State Police post, conservation the officers with the local DNR District, community corrections officers, and members of the prosecuting attorney’s office. The children who take part in the event are part of Tricap’s HeadStart program and according to Bower, the FOP will also pick a family to support.
Starting at about 9:45 a.m. officers began to roam the aisles of Walmart with their shopping cart and assigned children. Armed with lists of their child’s needs, usually clothing items like underwear, socks, pants or a winter coat, and wants, or toys, they weaved their way through the store guessing sizes and playing with toys.
When the shopping was complete, the officers paraded to the Moose Lodge with lights flashing and sirens wailing for a dinner of hotdogs, french fries and cupcakes with Santa.
According to Bower, the event is a great way for the officers to have a positive impact on the kids and families in the community that can have a lasting impression. “It really just brings joy to my heart,” Bower, who has been involved with the event since 2004, said. “And I know the other officers love doing it, too.”
