Annual Shop with a Cop treats 43 children this Christmas
For nine years now the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 97 has organized the annual Cops and Kids event where children shop with a cop, and this year, donations allowed them to expand to helping Santa find 43 local children for Christmas.
According to the Thomasville Lodge President Tony Staley, the original plan was to sponsor 31 chidren, spending about $170 on each, but “additional donations came in that have allowed us to increase that number by a dozen.”
Each child must go through a vetting process to qualify, and then is assigned an officer with whom they will shop.
Staley said he and staff reached out to all local law enforcement organizations and a number were able to participate, including Davidson, Davie, Forsyth and Randolph County Sheriffs, Thomasville Police, Granite Quarry Police and NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
“I don’t want to leave anyone out so if I missed a name, please know we are so appreciative of all the officers who took time on a day off to come participate, grateful to the chiefs, sheriffs and supervisors who have given staff time to come out. We offer thanks to our volunteers who are here to help and our staff and members that have made this happen, and of course to all who have made the donations that make this possible.”
A line of gift wrapping elves were stationed at the exit of the WalMart Supercenter in Thomasville where the event took place Saturday, a change from the initial partnership with Roses. The gift wrap is a new addition, as Staley said this year, children are asked to choose two items to be wrapped and placed under the tree to be opened Christmas morning.
“Can’t forget to thank WalMart as well for hosting us, “ said Staley.
“The smile on the faces, of the kids and the officers, is priceless,” Staley added.
“The majority of the time children interact with police, it’s something negative, scary,” said Dakota Dennis, a detective with Davidson County and second vice president of the lodge. “This has the impact of changing how they see us, let’s them see the person behind the uniform.”
Scott Strickland, a lieutenant with NC Wildlife, agreed.
“My child was a 13-year-old girl, and she ended up choosing not just things she wanted but some thing she needs, and while we shopped, a lot of folks came up to us and asked me questions, which led to her asking questions. She wanted to know if people approach me all the time like that, and when I said yes, she seemed surprised that people are comfortable just coming up to me. I think it changed her mind a little about police being people you can talk to.”
Tony Staley, center, in the suit, stands with several of the officers who participated in Saturday’s Shop with a Cop in Thomasville, sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 97.
“This epitomizes what Christmas is,” said Dexter Short of the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s a joy to give back.”
The lodge is already looking ahead to next year’s event, and anyone interested in donating can do so at the lodge website, NCFOP97.org, or by sending donations to P.O. Box 205, Thomasville, NC, 27361-0205, and making a note on the donation that it is for the Shop with a Cop event.
