Time for 10th Annual Shop with a Cop

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Association is celebrating the tenth annual Shop With a Cop this year. The Shop With A Cop program brings underprivileged children together with deputies to shop for themselves and their families. Shop With A Cop started ten years ago when the Community Liaison with Wal-Mart contacted Chief Deputy Stacy Brown and began the planning process to bring the program to Lewis County. The program is a national Wal-Mart program. Wal-Mart provides some financial assistance, but the majority of funds for the program comes from donations from employees of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the public. The program receives invaluable assistance from United Way in the way of office staff to assist in the application, screening, and selection process. United Way staff also assists the day of the event with administrative support.

The startup funds for the program were raised by employees of the Sheriff’s Office. A fundraiser was held to sell Krispy Kreme donuts. Approximately $7,800.00 worth of donuts was sold in one day. The money raised from the donut fundraiser has helped sustain the program for many years. Additional fundraisers have been held over the years to sustain the program.

Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Shop With A Cop has helped over 235 families in the past nine years. Children from east Lewis County are transported to the event using the East Lewis County Transit bus. The Transit bus has assisted greatly in ensuring children from all over Lewis County get to participate equally.

Deputies are enthusiastic about participating and seem to have as much fun as the kids do. After the deputy and child have completed shopping for their families, they get a ride back to the courthouse in a patrol car. Once at the courthouse, they wrap their gifts, play Bingo for some great prizes, enjoy a pizza dinner – donated by Papa Petes, and visit with deputies and employees of the Sheriff’s Office. Last year, the grand prize for the Bingo game was a Nintendo 3DS.

The kids chosen to participate are extremely grateful for the gifts they are allowed to buy for their families. The children are usually more worried about their family members than they are themselves. Many deputies have reported in the past that the child they shopped with simply wanted basic necessities such as socks, shoes, and school supplies. Often, deputies pay for those things themselves and let the children pick out toys for their gifts.

The program is open to children 8 through 18 who reside in Lewis County. Applications are now available from the United Way Website www.lewiscountyuw.com, their office at 450 NW Pacific Avenue, Chehalis, or by calling their office at 748-8100. Counselors, neighbors, social workers, church leaders, parents, teachers and other community members are encouraged to nominate any children they feel would benefit from the program. Both financial need and the need for positive interaction with a police officer are used as criteria in selecting applicants. Children chosen this year will “Shop with a Cop” on December 15th at the Chehalis Wal-Mart store. The deadline to submit applications is November 23rd.

If you wish to donate to the Shop With A Cop program, please send your donations to: Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Association, Attn: Chief Deputy Brown/Shop With A Cop, 345 W. Main Street, Chehalis, WA 98532.

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