12/12/2020
Benton County Sheriff's Office
Benton County Sheriff's Office
Twenty-two law enforcement personnel from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and City of Corvallis Police Department participated in our 26th Annual “Shop with a Cop” event on Saturday, December 5, 2020.
This year’s event looked much different with COVID-19 social distancing requirements. In previous years law enforcement officers shopped with the child the day of the event. This year a $40.00 gift card and a wish list were presented to public safety professionals to purchase gifts for each child the day before and day of the event. Many of them dug into their own pockets to ensure the kids got everything on their lists.
On Saturday morning the purchases were returned to the law enforcement building in Corvallis, where volunteer “elves” coordinated a wrapping party. The deputies and officers then made multiple gift deliveries to 43 children in the county. The biggest delivery was to a holiday party the Department of Human Services Office was hosting in Corvallis, where all of the children were surprised with gifts.
Each year, children are invited to participate in the Shop with a Cop event through Benton County Parole and Probation and the Self Sufficiency and Child Welfare offices of the Department of Human Services.
Some of the children are initially frightened of law enforcement. For some, the only contact they have had with law enforcement is when a parent or other family member is arrested. This year was all smiles though, even through living room windows.
“This event proved again to be a huge success in bringing children and law enforcement together within our community,” said Katie Cooper, the Shop with a Cop Coordinator. “It demonstrates caring and kindness towards the children and families who are struggling in our community.”
This program is supported entirely by donations; financial contributions are collected year-round. If you are interested in giving, please make a check out to “The Sheriff’s Foundation – Shop with a Cop” and send it to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office at 180 NW 5th St, Corvallis, OR 97330. Another way to help is through the Amazon Smile Program. Go to smile.amazon.com/ch/27-2252788 to choose the Benton County Sheriff’s Foundation as your charitable organization of choice for all your Amazon purchases.