15 Local kids get the gift of giving during La Grande’s Shop with a Cop
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, December 20th, 2024 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
ISLAND CITY – With Christmas just around the corner, the giving season is in full swing. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the holiday prep, 15 local 1st through 6th graders (selected from the La Grande School District) were given a special opportunity to give their families an extra special Christmas.
Though running since 2009, the 2024 La Grande Shop with a Cop can be described as nothing short of special. Supported by 35 volunteers, the kids teamed up with members of the La Grande Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, and Oregon State Police to go on the holiday shopping spree of a lifetime. The kids arrived at Walmart in Island City at around 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, and were paired up with officers as soon as they stepped off the bus. Following a brief photoshoot, everyone moved inside and immediately got to work.
The store quickly filled with even more holiday buzz than usual as kids and officers alike swept the isles looking for the perfect gifts. The kids were given $150 dollars each to Christmas shop for their friends and families, with their partners in blue helping them along the way. Everyone was practically glowing with excitement as carts quickly filled up with toys, clothes, and a variety of other things. When asked what she was most looking forward to for Christmas, Nine-year-old Savannah (paired up with La Grande Police Chief Gary Bell) said, “Probably…just spending time with family is all I want.” Chief Bell also shared his thoughts on Shop with a Cop:
“It’s wonderful, just a blessing. I’m super thankful for all the volunteers and our community so that we can make this happen for the kids.”
It should be no surprise that the toy section was quite popular, though for a heartwarming reason. The kids were simply having fun buying things for their siblings and friends. While they are given the opportunity to buy something for themselves at the end of the day as a surprise, most of them were just overjoyed that they got to shop for their families. As stated by LGPD Lieutenant Jason Hays, Shop with a Cop’s coordinator:
“The kids get to be the hero, and they get to do the shopping for their family. In most charitable organizations, the kids receive something, but they don’t get the gift of giving as well. And so, they like to be able to have money to go shopping for their family and experience the gift of giving in the holidays. What I found over the years is that they would rather buy something for their family than for themselves. Because, as a surprise, we tell them you can buy something for yourself as well. They’re a little bit hesitant to do that because they’re having so much fun buying for somebody else. There’s no selfishness at all with them.”
As officers and kids moved through the store, volunteers were waiting for them with wrapping paper in hand and pizza on plates. Volunteers Rick and Salley Nebeker were on pizza duty while other volunteers handled wrapping. The couple have been volunteering for Shop with a Cop for around 10-15 years and, in their own words, “we just like doing it, helping the kids, helping the community.”
It’s not unusual for many of the volunteers, both public and officers, to have been involved for such a long time given how much everyone enjoys helping. That said, there were a couple new faces this year, with a state police lieutenant and captain joining in for the first time. While it ultimately comes down to giving the kids the best Christmas possible, Shop with a Cop has quite a positive impact on officers as well, giving them the opportunity to give back to the community in a fun and charitable way. As explained by Hays:
“It’s just joyous for me. Especially in my profession when we’re looked at as the enforcers. But that’s not correct. One-third of our job is enforcement. One-third is education. One-third is crime prevention. This community service is the most positive thing that we could do to give back to our community and serve.”
UCSO Deputy Justin Hernandez offered a similar sentiment:
“My favorite thing about Shop with a Cop is just spending time with kids, and the kids having the opportunity to see us in this light. I think Sheriff Cody Bowen says it best when it comes to humanizing the badge.”
Cherise Kaechele, Public Information Officer for the UCSO also remarked:
“This is great. This is one of our favorite things to do every year just because it’s such a positive interaction with the kids. The kids enjoy it. Our officers and our deputies enjoy it. It’s just fun, and being able to talk with them is great.”
Of course, the Walmart staff too were overjoyed to participate. As told by Walmart checker Tina, who manned the Shop with a Cop checkout this year:
“I love to watch the kids. Kids are the magic of Christmas, I think. To watch them interact with officers is just awesome!”
Eventually, things started winding down as gifts were wrapped, pizza was eaten, and officers and volunteers started shuttling the kids and their Christmas hauls home.
Shop with a Cop wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of local volunteers and law enforcement. Monetary donations for the program are accepted all year long (with some people even offering cash on the spot according to Hays) and dropped off at the La Grande Police Department. Checks can be made out to Shop with a Cop. Notices for volunteers will go up next November. To arrange donations or discuss volunteer opportunities, contact Jason Hays or Erin Dickhausen at the La Grande Police Department at 541-963-1017.
More photos of Shop with a Cop are available below:
