 Auglaize County Corrections Officer Rebecca Manns shops with Courtney at the Wapakoneta Wal-Mart Saturday as part of the Shop with a Cop program. The program helped approximately 100 Auglaize County children have clothes and toys for Christmas. Staff photo/Krista Hayes By KRISTA HAYES
Staff Writer
Approximately 100 Auglaize County children had some of their Christmas wishes come true Saturday as they participated in the 15th annual Shop With a Cop event held at the Wapakoneta Wal-Mart.
After soliciting donations from local residents, organizations and businesses throughout the year, Auglaize County law enforcement officials managed to raise more than $15,000 to take underprivileged children in the county shopping for Christmas.
“The amount we raised this year is about the same amount we have raised in previous years, although this year we really had some concerns starting out about being able to raise the funds necessary to host Shop With a Cop,” Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Jerry Sawmiller said. “However, in the end, things really picked up, with some big area organizations and businesses really stepping up and making healthy donations.”
Of the nearly $16,000 raised for the program, $150 was distributed to each underprivileged child, 2 to 11 years of age, with $100 to be spent on clothing and $50 facilitated for toys.
“This year we had 100 children participate in the program, which we split into two groups of 50, with the first group going shopping at 9 a.m. and the other at 10:30 a.m.,” Sawmiller said. “With the economy the way it is today, we have definitely seen an increase in children enrolling in the program, and although $100 is facilitated to be spent on clothing, children are allowed to spend more with the money being taken out of the $50 designated for toys.”
After being treated to a breakfast consisting of doughnuts, cookies, juice and coffee and receiving the opportunity to meet Santa Claus in person at the Knights of Columbus Hall, children and their families loaded into their cars and headed out to Wal-Mart to meet with local law enforcement.
There, each child and his or her parents were given 45 minutes to shop with local law enforcement officers from police departments in Wapakoneta, Minster, New Bremen, St. Marys and Cridersville, as well as county and state offices.
“One officer is assigned per family, and we have others to help assist each officer such as former DARE students, members and volunteers of the Knights of Columbus, nurses with Joint Township District Memorial Hospital, EMS personnel from Indian Lake, and friends and relatives of the officers,” Sawmiller said.
“From an officer’s standpoint, it’s always a good feeling to be able to help those children in need while putting smiles on their faces,” he said. “I think it’s the same feeling for all of us law enforcement who enjoy bringing Christmas joy to underprivileged children who might not otherwise get to have a good Christmas.”
Among those children enrolled in this year’s Shop With a Cop program was Courtney, a Wapakoneta youth who arrived to Wal-Mart Saturday ready with her plan of attack as she browsed among clothing and toys with Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officer Rebecca Manns.
“I really would like a new bike for Christmas, plus I need some new clothes for school,” Courtney, 10, said. “I think the program is really great because it helps make Christmas wishes come true for those in need.”
Also praising the program was Courtney’s mother, Karen, who said she wanted her daughter to have the best Christmas possible.
“The program is wonderful, as this is the first time we’ve ever had to use it,” Karen said. “At first, we weren’t sure if Courtney would get enrolled in the program and even have a Christmas this year, but she was, and we’re very thankful for that.”
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