Cops help Santa out with 'Shop-with-a-Cop' event
Photo by HEATHER COWAN Law enforcement and participating kids stand outside Silver Hills Elementary in Osburn after Shop-with-a-Cop.
Officers and deputies with local agencies guide their assigned kids through Walmart in Smelterville to shop. Photo by CHANSE WATSON
Photo by CHANSE WATSON Officers and deputies with local agencies treated 60 kids to a mini-shopping spree at Walmart in Smelterville for the Shop-with-a-Cop program.
Photo by CHANSE WATSON
Photo by CHANSE WATSON
Photo by CHANSE WATSON
Photo by HEATHER COWAN Law enforcement poses with Santa Claus following the first day of Shop-with-a-Cop.
Photo by HEATHER COWAN U.S. Postal Service workers who participated with the Shop-with-a-Cop program. USPS worked to allow kids the opportunity to write letters to Santa.
OSBURN — The third year of the ‘Shop-with-a-Cop’ program went off without a hitch last weekend, as local law enforcement once again helped spread a little holiday cheer to Silver Valley youth.
Thirteen officers and deputies with local agencies treated a total of 60 kids (over two days) to a mini-shopping spree at Walmart in Smelterville, so they could buy presents for themselves and loved ones.
“Things went smooth,” Osburn Police Chief and event organizer Darell Braaten said. “Doing the event over two days helped in being able to spend time interacting with all the kids.”
Considering the event’s number of participating children has more than doubled since its inaugural year, it’s safe to say ‘Shop-with-a-Cop’ has become a hit with both parents and kids.
To get things started, the first group of 30 participating children met at Silver Hills Elementary in Osburn Saturday morning and were greeted by a parade of law enforcement vehicles. Part of the experience is that the kids get to ride to Walmart in a police car.
Because of the increased number of participants, a second group of 30 went the following morning as well.
Once they arrived, the children were paired up with a deputy or officer and then set loose in the store. Each child had a budget of $100 to spend on whatever they wanted for themselves or others.
As the kids searched for gifts, their assigned officer or deputy would help them decide what to get and keep track of how much money they had spent.
Similar to years past, items purchased included a variety of different things. From clothing and tools to toys and electronics — these kids hit all the bases.
Once the march through the checkout line was complete, everybody jumped in the police cars and headed back to Silver Hills Elementary where more fun was waiting.
“After shopping, they wrapped the gifts, visited with Santa, sent letters to Santa — using the Post Office’s magical mailbox,” Chief Braaten said.
Each child will receive a handwritten letter from Santa that is postmarked from the North Pole.
To end both days, the kids were able to have a pizza party and see Santa in person.
With another successful event in the books, Braaten and Sheriff Mike Gunderson are pleased that this community bonding event is continuing.
“The importance for us to keep the program going is huge,” Gunderson said. “It allows us to interact with children in a positive light, show that we care about them and their situation, while also showing there is another side of the badge.”
Braaten was also sure to thank those who made the event possible.
“Want to thank the business and individual donors, volunteers, Silver Hills school for the use of the building, United States Postal Service and their employees, Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and the Pinehurst Police Department,” Braaten said. “Without everyones involvement, we would not be able to pull off this event.”