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Cops provide a gift of love, help kids with Christmas
Everyday heroes turned out in full force Saturday to help bring feelings of happiness and joy to a record number of area children during the annual Shop With a Cop program held in Mountain Home.
Awhile before sunrise, dozens of uniformed city and county law enforcement volunteers, MHAFB personnel, fire department, Idaho Fish & Game and many other agencies answered the call for assistance as they converged on West Elementary to "partner" with a special girl or boy for a morning of holiday inspired giving and receiving activities.
The humble public servants, who daily put their lives on the line to protect children and keep them from harms way, eagerly anticipated the morning events.
Organizer Rick Viola with the Mountain Home Police Department observed, "It is such special program for the kids that many of our volunteers keep coming back... it makes them feel good to help out year after year."
Troy Clark and helpers from the McDonalds restaurant on Airbase Road arrived early to prepare and serve a warm "Happy Meal" breakfast to the 108 children accepted into the program this season.
In the past, the meal was served at the restaurant but due to the large number of participants this year, it was necessary to find a more spacious facility to accommodate all the volunteers and children.
Viola noted that the program "just keeps getting bigger and bigger. The community support has been terrific!"
Santa, McGruff the Crime Dog and a man performing magic tricks kept the children entertained during breakfast.
When the meal was complete, the uniformed volunteers gathered up their young charges to form a parade of patrol cars and fire trucks with lights flashing and sirens wailing, that stretched from one side of the city to the other.
As they started to arrive at Wal-Mart, they were warmly greeted by a cheerful group of employees and supporters waiting at the front of the store.
Soon thereafter, the children and their "partners" enthusiastically embarked on a holiday shopping adventure.
The boys and girls glowed with excitement as they considered all of the merchandise on the shelves and found something special like a teddy bear for a loved one, or possibly a skateboard for themselves.
Viola said, "Often times, they (the children) want to buy for the family members and not for themselves so it is not uncommon for their volunteer "partner" to purchase a gift that is just for them."
When their gift selections were complete, they "checked out" at specially designated aisles and headed to the Garden Center area of the store for free gift wrapping, which was offered by smiling volunteers dressed in Santa hats.
As a memento to remember their special day, the children posed with Santa and their volunteer "partner" for a photo.
The participating children comes from all types of living situations. Some are from families with serious economic challenges while others may have experienced a single incident of adversity or family tragedy, according to Viola.
"The kids are usually referred to the program by school counselors or social service agencies that have observed a need in the kids that makes them a little more vulnerable and in need of some special time," Viola said.
The Shop With a Cop program is about ten years old, having originated as an employee sponsored effort of the former Kmart store.
The number of youth participating each year has more than tripled since it began years ago.
Viola said, "We hope to serve many more people with this great program."
"Right now, we are securing non-profit status so that we have the ability to raise more money and include more children in the program each year."