Last week a group of officers from the Columbia Falls Police Department descended on Target in Kalispell. But they weren’t there to fight crime. Instead, they were taking nine lucky children shopping for jackets, hats and toys their families may not be able to afford this holiday season.
The Columbia Falls Police Association has organized the annual Shop with a Cop since the 1990s. As Christmas approaches, teachers and staff in the Columbia Falls School District nominate a handful of students whose families might need a little help. The district provides the list to police and then call the students’ parents to see if their children want to participate. This year nine kids from the Columbia Falls area attended.
“Every year this is the best part of my job,” Officer Steve Hughes said. “It’s a great way to give back to the community and to those who are in need.”
While most people would think the kids would go straight to the toy section, Hughes said many of them are more interested in getting items they don’t have, like warm clothes. Officer Jared Haddenham said kids often want to get gifts for their parents and siblings before they even venture down the toy aisle for themselves. But Haddenham said they make sure the kids always get a few toys or games of their own to place under the tree.
“Every kid needs a toy for Christmas,” he said.
All of the toys and clothes are paid for by the Columbia Falls Police Association, which accepts donations for the Shop with a Cop program and other community projects throughout the year. It also hosts an annual fundraiser, and this year it will be held at Columbia Falls High School on Jan. 29, 2015 at 7 a.m. Target also provides the kids and cops discounts on the items they buy and after shopping gives them free hot dogs and sodas at the café.
“These kids might not have much of a Christmas without this program,” Haddenham said.