The Perry Police Department’s Shop with a Cop Program is aiming to bring joy to Perry-area families again this holiday season, and Perry Police Detective Laura Deaton briefed the Perry City Council Monday night on this year’s plans.
Each year the Shop with a Cop Program provides $125 worth of gifts to a number of families. A child from each family teams up with a law enforcement officer, firefighter or paramedic, and they go shopping in Perry businesses in order to purchase Christmas gifts for the family.
The children must first purchase a gift for each person in their households, and then they can purchase something for themselves. All of the presents are then taken to the Perry Elementary School and wrapped for Christmas morning.
“It’s a great opportunity for the kids to interact with the officers,” said Deaton. “It’s a great opportunity for us to get to know who the kids are, what they’re like. I really feel it’s a good way for us to connect with kids and see another side of us.”
Thanks to other donations from the community, the families are also sent home with all the fixings they need to have a great Christmas dinner together. The Shop with a Cop Program promotes family togetherness during the holidays.
“Shop with a Cop is a great way to also promote family time together,” Deaton said. “Unfortunately, with programs such as this, the only way for it to stay alive is through donations.”
One helpful fundraiser for the Shop with a Cop Program is the Before the Turkey Soup Supper scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. at the First Christian Church in Perry.
Nominations of worthy children may be made by downloading the nomination form and returning it by Nov. 30 to the Perry Police Department at 908 Willis Ave. Contributions are also due by Nov. 30 for the mid-December Shop with a Cop event.
Please send your nominations or contributions to:
Perry Police Peace Officers
Attn: Detective Laura Deaton
908 Willis Ave.
Perry, IA 50220
For more information, call Detective Deaton at 515-465-4636.
