Shop With A Cop
Published: December 20, 2005
Anticipation, excitement, lots of smiles, and joy filled the Wal-Mart store in Oroville on Thursday as 75 children from 15 local area schools were teamed up with Oroville police officers for the fourth annual Shop-with-a Cop program.
This program depends upon the officers’ association, community donations, and the generosity of the citizens of Oroville. It gives low-income children a special shopping day where each police officer teams up with and personally takes children holiday shopping in Wal-Mart.
The schools choose students who meet special established criteria, such as: good attendance, no recent disciplinary action, grades, and from low income families.
Police officers and staff members from the Oroville Police Department escort and help the children select their gifts and assist them in keeping within their budget, which is $50 per child. The children ranged in ages from three to 15-years-old.
Uniformed police officers were pushing shopping carts and taking two to three children at a time down the aisle. Officer Jason Taylor was helping two, six-year-old boys in the shoe section. “What size do you wear?” he asked. “Size six I think,” the boy replied. “O.K., then let’s try on some shoes and see how they fit,” Taylor said.
“I want to get a pen,” the other boy offered. “A pen?” the officer asked. “Yes, a pen to write with,” the boy explained. “O.K. let’s find the right size shoe first and then we can look at pens,” Taylor said smiling.
Sgt. Jake Thao was strolling down the aisle pushing another cart with a little boy and girl at his side. “He wants to buy gifts for his three sisters at home,” Thao said, while providing translations from Hmong to English. “His baby sister is only one year old, and he wants to get something for her.”
School principals were also in attendance. Principal Julian Diaz of Wyandotte Avenue School shared, “The kids have been so excited about coming here today. One boy exclaimed, All these years I’ve been waiting to get picked.”‘
Diaz remarked, “It’s so great that law enforcement takes this initiative. There are so many kids with needs.” New Principal Lori Strieby from Oakdale Heights agreed, “Yes, and it’s so good for the kids to have such a positive connection with law enforcement.”
Principal Rita Costa, who is also vice-principal at Central Middle School, beamed a big smile while her eyes twinkled, “One of my kindergartners was so cute. She just burst out with, I’m in a very happy mood today!”‘
Principal Tony Catalano from Plumas Avenue School in Thermalito spoke with enthusiasm, “We really, really appreciate the support from Wal-Mart and the police who give these kids a boost during the holidays. And, this program has grown and gets better every year.”
Pastor Steve Terry, who serves as a dispatcher and chaplain for OPD, had just finished taking two little girls shopping and was ready to get a second shopping cart and escort two more children for their shopping spree.
“This is great. Fantastic,” Terry exclaimed. “We really enjoy helping the kids select the gifts they want and this is a good service to the public and the kids have a great time.”
One little girl said, “What if my mother is going to have a baby? How do I find the baby things in the store?” The police officer escorted the girl and assured her that he would help her find the right department.
Another little girl beamed as she waltzed alongside of a shopping cart that was being driven by an officer, “I want to buy a sewing machine for my mommy.”
Wal-Mart employees were lined up at tables awaiting the children’s purchases so they could gift wrap them in beautiful bright holiday paper. The children enjoyed watching their gifts being wrapped in gingerbread and snowman wrapping paper and the children helped decorate the gift with a bright colored bow and name tag, which they signed.
“Our goal is to reach out to these children, provide them with some money to purchase presents for themselves and their families while promoting a positive law enforcement relationship with them,” Cress said. “There are many benefits to this program. It is a wonderful, positive contact between the police officers and the children,” said Linda Cress, of the Oroville Police Department. “Wal-Mart is so generous with us. They provided free gift wrapping services, lunch, and also gave us a discount on the purchases.”
“The experience also helps to elevate the children’s self-esteem knowing that the community cares about them and providing them the opportunity to select the gifts themselves,” Cress said.
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