Officers to raise money for Christmas gifts for families in need with weekend fundraiser

CHUBBUCK – Police officers from various agencies will gather at a busy grocery store to fundraise for a long-running holiday charity program this weekend.

This fundraising event is for Cops & Kids, formerly known as Shop with a Cop, where officers team up with children from low-income families to go holiday shopping for their loved ones. Officers from the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello police, Chubbuck police, and Idaho State Police will fundraise in front of the Chubbuck Walmart at 4240 Yellowstone Avenue on Saturday from noon to 7 p.m.

“There are officers that look forward to this every year,” said Sgt. Jodi Weaver, who coordinates the program with the participating agencies.

This is the first year when the event has had to go under a new name, due to someone trademarking the former name. Weaver explained that the National Fraternal Order of Police trademarked the new name and allows police agencies to use it after getting permission.

The officers will be stationed at the entrances to the store in uniform, wearing santa hats while collecting donations, all of which will go towards Cops & Kids. People can donate with cash or use online options.

The donations that people make creates a “lifetime impact” for the participating children, Weaver said.

“I have talked to people that are in their 30s and 40s who did this years and years and years ago, and they remember every minute of it,” Weaver said. “We don’t just provide Christmas, we provide a lifetime memory that they will never forget.”

Once children have partnered up with a law enforcement officer, they figure out what they want to get for their family and go shopping together to get those gifts.

But it’s not just a shopping event. The children and officers get to have breakfast provided by McDonald’s, get their pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and drive in a patrol car with the emergency lights flashing.

“It really gives them a good relationship with law enforcement that they may or may not have ever had,” Weaver said.

People who want to donate this year and can’t at Saturday’s fundraiser have until the shopping event that takes place on Dec. 7, but they’ll still continue to accept donations for the upcoming year. Cops & Kids is a 501(c)(3), and people can donate by searching Bannock-FOP on Venmo. They can also send a check in the mail to “FOP Christmas,” PO Box 4064, Pocatello ID, 83205.

So far, all of the participating children have not been selected yet, so families can register a child ages six through nine by contacting the Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency (SEICAA) at (208) 232-1114.