Just like most nonprofits, the holiday charity known as "Shop With A Cop" is facing tough challenges this year.
As of Wednesday, 126 children were scheduled to go on shopping sprees this weekend with law enforcement officers, according to Alicia Monroe, coordinator of the Volunteer Action Center. That is a slight decrease from last year, she said.
Sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #89, "Shop With A Cop" begins at 12:30 p.m. Sunday inside the west side Walmart, 2025 Merchant Mile.
All participants will be required to wear masks, as well as comply with any other regulations or precautions the store management requests, lodge president Alan Trisler said.
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This event has attracted many supporters over the decades. Beside the holiday shopping event, income raised by the FOP helps finance year-round programs that help hundreds of children, including those served by the Columbus Behavioral Health Center, the Parkside Early Education Program and other community youth initiatives, Trisler said.
But like most nonprofits, the FOP was forced to call off some major fundraising activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as a golf tournament that usually brings in up to $10,000 annually, the lodge president said.
The cancellation of the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair in July hit the FOP in the pocketbook especially hard. For several summers now, lodge members have handled getting vehicles in and out of the fairgrounds. In return, the lodge splits the parking income evenly with the fair board, Trisler said. But no fair meant no extra income.
Nevertheless, officers from a half dozen area law enforcement departments in both Bartholomew and Brown counties, along with civilian employees and volunteers, are still going to team up with Walmart this weekend to show their love and support for children, Trisler said.
Unique memories
Over the years, "Shop With A Cop" has generated some heart-wrenching stories. One concerned two girls who walked to the store on a frigid and snowy day without winter coats. Both told officers their families couldn’t afford them, but when the young ladies were driven home, both had brand new heavy coats and other winter gear.
There have been a number of cases when officers had to give rides to children to get them to their shopping spree because they have no other transportation, according to Officer Angie Owens, a defensive tactics instructor at the Columbus Police Department.
When asked what she likes most about the event, Owens said she enjoys shopping with little girls because they often prefer ladies in blue as their escorts.
"They always smile when they get to shop with a girl cop because, let’s face it, guys aren’t always the best shoppers, right?" Owens said with a laugh.
Many of the male officers agree with Owen, but compensate by bringing along their teenage daughters to help with shopping.
A majority of the money allocated for each child is spent shopping for winter or school clothes, which the girls usually appreciate more than the boys, Owens said.
"But then, you tell them they can spend $50 to $60 on toys, and they all just light up," the officer said. "Just seeing the appreciation on their faces, and how excited they are to get new things? It’s always a joy," Owens said.
However, one of the best benefits of "Shop With A Cop" is how it allows at-risk children to see officers as approachable, friendly and caring, Owens said. And making that type of connection with kids on a personal level is a good relationship builder, she added.
"This is all made possible by the generosity of businesses and individuals in Bartholomew and Brown counties," Trisler said. "Donations from former residents also come in from out of state as well."
Many ways of giving
Due to this year’s financial cuts, the FOP is encouraging the community to drop off a financial donation at the Columbus Police Department, located on the east side of City Hall, 123 Washington St., or the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, 543 Second St. Checks with the word "Shop With A Cop" in the lower left-hand column can be mailed at any time year round to the Fraternal Order of Police, P.O. Box 204, Columbus, IN, 47201.
But there are also contributors who prefer to show up during the event to make their donation – sometimes in mysterious ways. One example was back in 2016, when several $20 bills seemed to magically appear in a donation jar just seconds after it was set out, Trisler said.
When word got out in 2017 that "Shop With A Cop" had not reached it’s goal, two donors came forward with large donations as the shopping sprees were wrapping up, pushing the charity over its goal.
But it was a group of soldiers who had just returned from Afghanistan that gave "Shop With A Cop" its best year ever, as well as one of its most memorable experiences.
"The platoon sergeant saw what was going on, saw our donation jar, quickly pulled a crisp $100 bill out and dropped it in," Trisler said. "What he did next was truly amazing. In his sergeant voice, he called his entire platoon up and said “a hunny in the jar…NOW!”
Each of the soldiers, who had arrived together on a bus, immediately dropped a $100 bill in the jar before doing their shopping, Trisler said.
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Tax-deductible contributions to Shop With a Cop are accepted at any time.
Checks made out to the Fraternal Order of Police Local 89 should also have “Shop With a Cop” written in the lower left-hand purpose area.
Donations may be dropped off at either the Columbus Police Department, located on the east side of City Hall, 123 Washington St., or the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, 543 Second St.
Checks can also be mailed to Fraternal Order of Police, P.O. Box 204, Columbus, IN, 47201.
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Bartholomew County police officers began providing holiday shopping excursions to children on an annual basis nearly 40 years ago, Fraternal Order of Police Local 89 president and long-time event organizer Alan Trisler said.
However, there are earlier records of policemen and policewomen taking children from financially struggling families on shopping sprees when law enforcement was part of the local Cheer Fund campaign, he said. The current format of the program has been followed since 1994.
While similar events are held throughout the United States, Trisler said the phrase “Shop With A Cop” is actually trademarked by CJW Inc., which is a small, private marketing company based in Ohio. As long as the trademark is acknowledged, the company allows organizations like the local Fraternal Order of Police to use the term "Shop With A Cop." However, the “official” name of the program in Columbus is FOP 89 Youth Program.
Besides the holiday shopping sprees, the FOP 89 Youth Program also sponsors a number of year-round outreach programs for children.
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