Sheldon, Iowa — Sheldon’s annual Shop With a Cop program saw Sheldon Police Officers and helpers shop for school supplies and clothing with a group of deserving Kindergarten through 8th grade students from the Sheldon Community School District.
Sheldon Police Chief Scott Burtch tells us about Shop With a Cop.
(As above) “Shop With a Cop is a program that was started with the help of Love INC, that helps underprivileged kids here in the Sheldon school district with school supplies. They get a lot of donations from the businesses, organizations in the community, and then they will shop here in the in the city for those supplies.”
The Sheldon School District and Love INC identify those children that potentially need assistance. All the participants come from disadvantaged homes and must meet certain criteria. First the students must qualify for the free lunch program at the schools. Once these students are identified, an application must be filed with Love INC to participate in the program. Love INC manages the application process to make sure the most disadvantaged children participate in the program. The number of participants is based largely on the amount of funding raised for the program, according to Chief Burtch. He says the cost for the program is about $250 for each child.
This year’s Shop With A Cop saw 71 kids from the Sheldon Community Schools participate over a two-night period. The event took place Tuesday and Wednesday evenings this week, and began with a pizza party for the kids, cops and helpers at the Sheldon Community Services Center.
Once the group was finished eating pizza, they boarded RIDES buses and private vehicles, and headed out on their shopping excursions.
Below are a few images from this week’s Shop With a Cop………………………
Sheldon Police Vehicles Staged And Ready for Shop With A Cop
One of Two RIDES Buses Ready To Take The Kids Shopping
Kids And Helpers Emerge From The Community Services Center, Ready to Shop With A Cop
