By Kellie Houx & Amanda Lubinski

CLAY COUNTY — Public safety officers across the Northland protect and serve, but for some of the community’s most vulnerable, there’s an added service around the holidays through Shop With a Cop/Sheriff programs.

These programs see police officers and deputies raise funds throughout the year to take underserved children on shopping sprees for presents and needed items around Christmastime.

In addition to spreading holiday cheer, these programs foster a positive relationship between the community and law enforcement.

Clay County

Clay County Sheriff’s deputies who serve as school resource deputies volunteer each holiday season to take children in need in North Kansas School District shopping. This December, the Shop with a Sheriff program is taking 40 students to a nearby retailer to purchase items for themselves and relatives.

“Thanks to generous donations from our employees, grants and you, the sheriff’s office posted on its Facebook page.

To donate to the program, visitsheriffclayco.org/community-resources/give.

Gladstone

Students from four elementary schools in Gladstone — Chapel Hill, Linden West, Meadowbrook and Oakwood Manor — have had the opportunity to Shop with a Gladstone Cop.

Former Mayor Art Hammen, who has led the charge for fundraising for eight years, said guidance counselors from the four schools select the participants.

This year’s event will take shoppers to the Gladstone Walmart. Sgt. Bill Brier recruits fellow officers and Gladstone firefighters to help out.

“We are looking at around 35 kids this year,” he said. “We will divide the kids into two groups to go shopping.”

Brier has been involved with shopping efforts for around a dozen years.

“These experiences mean a great deal to the officers who get to help shop. It’s a chance to bond with a kid. We enjoy it as much as the kids do,” he said.

During the shopping day, as with other shop programs, police officers or firefighters accompany each child around the store to select appropriate gifts for themselves and members of their family.

“Positive relationships are born,” Hammen said.

To make a donation to Gladstone Shop with a Cop, call Hammen at 452-7293. Donations can also be made at Gladstone City Hall during normal business hours.

Kearney

Kearney officer David Parker said seeing deserving children get excited is a gift that often means more to officers than the toy or present purchased by the child.

“One year, we had a set of twins that were about 7-years-old, and once they realized they could put whatever they wanted in the cart – you could tell that they had been told ‘no’ before and they were used to living within a strict budget – and just seeing their eyes light up at the thought of ‘I get to actually get stuff,’ is great,” he said.

The Kearney Shop With a Cop program takes a child per grade in pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade shopping. Children are required to get winter wear they may need first and then the rest of the budget amount can be spent on presents. Any siblings in the child’s home also get items purchased for them. Shopping is often assisted by troopers from the highway patrol and Clay County deputies.

“Eighty to 90% of the kids end up getting gifts for parents or grandparents and think of other people, and a lot of the times, it’s before they even went to the toy aisle for themselves. It’s great to see that excitement and pure joy of ‘I get to get whatever I want,’” said Parker, adding staff at the nearby Walmart the program takes kids to goes out of their way to make it special, adding extra touches like donating batteries to all the kids’ gifts.

In addition to helping children in need around the holidays, the Kearney program also tries to keep funds on hand through the year in the event of a life event or disaster that may mean a local child needs support to shop for personal items and necessities.

To donate, funds can be left at the Kearney police station, 601 N. Country Ave.; or transferred via Venmo to @KearneyMo-ShopWithACop.

Liberty

Lori Sutton, support services supervisor for Liberty Police Department, leads the efforts for Liberty’s Shop with a Cop.

Sutton expects the department will take around a dozen kids shopping this year. Last year, it was 13 kids, ranging in age from 2 to 15, shopping at the local Walmart.

“We are still selling raffle tickets through Dec. 6,” she said. “Just come to the window for police records to make a purchase or offer a donation.”

Sutton has been spearheading the effort since 2016.

“We want to create a bond that lasts,” she explained. “We want the kids to see that they can go to a police officer, talk to them, make that community contact. It’s not just about fulfilling those physical needs, but creating a positive interaction.”

Efforts to raise shopping funds are year-round. To make donations, stop by the Liberty City Hall records window at 101 E. Kansas St. during regular business hours.

Smithville

Smithville officer Caitlin Repola said this year’s Shop with a Cop event almost didn’t happen.

“Like the rest of the country, we are dealing with a staffing shortage too,” she said. “We have our duties to the citizens, so we erred on the side of caution to cancel.”

Then, the department’s officers as well as members of the Smithville Area Fire Protection District team decided to unite to see another year of the program.

“They helped out last year, too,” Repola said of the fire district. “We couldn’t do this without them.”

This year’s event will take children shopping at the Target off U.S. Highway 169 at Barry Road.

“After we shared the Facebook post about canceling this year, we have also seen a major increase in donations,” Repola said. “Smithville showed up for us.”

As with other departments, Smithville receives recommendations for the shoppers from teachers and school social workers.

“We thoroughly enjoy it,” she said. “We can build rapport. Kids bond with us. It’s refreshing to be with the kids. It’s good for our mental health, too. It’s about smiles all around. It can make our entire year.”

The Smithville shopping excursion starts and ends at the Family Worship Center. The church bus takes the kids and when they come back from shopping, the officers give the kids a lights-and-siren escort.

Monetary donations can be dropped off at Smithville Police Department, 107 W. Main St. There is also a donation bucket at the Central Bank location at Main Street and Highway 169.