Sheldon, Iowa — Sheldon’s annual Shop With a Cop program is gearing back up for the 2020 back-to-school season.
Sheldon Police Chief Scott Burtch says the purpose of the program is to provide school supplies and clothing for children in grades K-8 from the Sheldon School District. The children will shop at participating stores in Sheldon during the tax-free weekend, which this year is August 7th and 8th. The program provides a new backpack, school supplies, and clothing for each child who qualifies.
(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 will manage the application process and make sure the most disadvantaged children are participants in the program. The number of participants will be based largely on the amount of funding raised for the program. With the COVID-19 pandemic happening this year funding is needed now more than ever. Chief Burtch says the cost for the program is about $250 for each child. And he says, although he had set a deadline for donations, they are still being accepted.
(As above) “I put a deadline on it just to try to get a better account, a better number, of what the the balance would look like. But of course we’re still taking donations we take them year-round for the program.”
If you’d like to donate to the Shop With a Cop program you’re asked to mail a check to the Sheldon Police Department, PO Box 276 Sheldon IA 51201. And write “Shop With a Cop” on the memo line of your check. Chief Burtch says thanks to everyone who has donated to help continue this 15-year-old program.
