The Centralia Police Department with help from other departments shopped for more than 195 kids on Saturday at the Centralia Walmart Store during the 29th Annual Shop with a Cop.
Records Manager and 911 Dispatch Coordinator Stacey Jolliff, who coordinates the annual program, says it was expanded this year to add Irvington, Grand Prairie, and Sandoval Schools to Central City, North Wamac, Jordan, Schiller, Centralia Junior High, Central School and Willow Grove Grade Schools.
Three get bikes! 11-year-old Madilyn Hall, 7-year-old Emma Lee Hall, and 2-year-old Keirah Hall show off the bikes they picked out during shop with a cop.
Administrative Sergeant Steve Whritenour says $22,000 in generous donations allowed them to spend $125 on each child. He says nothing beats the hugs and Merry Christmas wishes from those taken on shopping trips.
“We love to have that interaction, especially with our youth that they can come up and talk to a police officer. That is why all our officers come out here in uniform. They can approach and talk to police anytime. not to be afraid of us and they can come up if they are in trouble or just to say hi, we love to talk to everybody.”
Centralia Football Players volunteered their time to help Shop with Cop recipients to get their gifts to their vehicles. Pictured left to right are George Shook, Gavin Jolliff, Isaac Tate, Cade Verble, and Chys Brown.
Whritenour says the kids many times come to shop for other than themselves.
“A lot of the kids come in with a list and want to by for brother, sister, mom or dad so we try to give them an opportunity to try and give their family a little bit of a Christmas too so it’s a win-win for everybody.”
10-year-old Ava Melton (left) shops with her 4-year-old sister Izzabella and Centralia Patrolman Steven Daley during Shop with a Cop at the Centralia Walmart Store on Saturday.
Centralia Police were assisted in the shopping by Sandoval and Central City Police as well as the Centralia Police and Fire Commission members and the Illinois Department of Corrections.
