This year’s Shop with a Cop, hosted annually by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 16, will be spread over three days and will give 100 children across the area the opportunity to spend quality time with members of law enforcement while shopping for Christmas gifts.
According to FOP member and Owensboro Police Department Officer Loren Yonts, this year’s “modified version” of Shop with a Cop will take place Tuesday-Thursday instead of being held on just one night. It will be held at the Walmart on Frederica Street.
“Normally we have 100 kids, plus parents, officers and volunteers. It’s around 300 people at one time,” Yonts said. “This year our event will have about 60 people there at a time, including volunteers and parents.”
FOP Owensboro Lodge 16 raises money for the annual event by soliciting donations through phone calls, Yonts said. He admitted that less money had been raised this year than usual, adding he and other members of the FOP fully understood why.
“Everyone is affected by COVID,” he said.
Still, enough money had been raised for the Shop with a Cop program, which provides each child with $160 to spend on necessities and presents of their choosing.
“Each child is given $160. About $80 of that is spent on clothing, shoes and other necessities,” Yonts said. “The other $80 goes toward toys, games, bikes. Some kids are good about spreading the money out, while others go for one big purchase.”
Yonts, who is coordinating this year’s event, said FOP chooses one group of children from various local homeless shelters, while the other two groups of kids are referred to FOP by family resource centers at Daviess County and Owensboro public schools. The final group of children are chosen by members of law enforcement who’ve had personal experiences with families across the area.
“We came to the same, unified decision that we didn’t want to lose that personal connection by cancelling Shop with a Cop this year. There are a lot of kids who look up to law enforcement,” Yonts said. “With COVID, there is a real need going on right now. The main reason why we didn’t want to cancel is because when things that are kind of scary are happening, they look to law enforcement for help and reassurance.”
Yonts also commended the members of the community who donate to events like Shop with a Cop, saying programs like that wouldn’t be possible without the support of those who give back.
FOP Owensboro Lodge 16 represents multiple local and regional law enforcement agencies who will be involved with this week’s Shop with a Cop event.
