DCSO ‘Shop with a Cop’ could use help

Fundraising for this year’s Shop with a Cop program has been under way for some time, but we could still use your help! This year’s shopping days will be December 18 th and 19 th at the Redmond Wal-Mart, and December 20 th at the Bend Wal-Mart.

Shop with a Cop is organized by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with local law enforcement agencies throughout Deschutes County and the local Wal-Mart stores. Its primary focus is to help make the holidays a little brighter for less-fortunate families, and providing an opportunity for children to engage in positive police interaction.

Participating students are referred primarily by volunteers at most schools throughout Deschutes County. Additional students are referred via the Central Oregon Partnership for Youth (COPY) program, which provides positive mentoring for children of incarcerated parents. The selected students are picked up by officers at their respective schools and driven to Wal-Mart where they then enjoy a “one-on-one” shopping experience with their uniformed partner. While gifts are being wrapped, the students are treated to lunch, donated by the in-store McDonald’s restaurant.

During the 2011 event, 117 school-age students, from 41 Deschutes County public schools, went shopping. They purchased gifts for over 500 family members and themselves, making the holiday season a little brighter.

Every little bit helps. Businesses and citizens who would like to make a monetary contribution towards this year’s program can drop off their donations during normal business hours at the main Sheriff’s Office in Bend, or at the Sheriff’s Office’s substations in La Pine and Sisters. Please make your checks payable to “DESCHUTES COUNTY SHERIFF SWAC“. You can also mail your check to:

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office

Attn : Shop with a Cop program

63333 West Highway 20

Bend, OR 97701

Additional information regarding Shop with a Cop, including a pictorial presentation, has been posted at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office website (www.deschutes/org/sheriff). Look for the “Shop with a Cop” link, under “Quick Links” in the box on the right side of the main page.