By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Twelve-year-old Alize Rivera was nervous when she was told she was going Christmas shopping with a police officer.
“I was actually scared. I’ve never been around cops,” Alize said.
But it was a matter of seconds before Alize and her sister, Nahla Drones, 7, of Bowling Green, warmed up to the idea. By the time they steered their shopping carts to a toy aisle, they seemed quite at home. The shelves full of pink girlie toys had the sisters squealing with delight.
As they debated over which toys to get, Bowling Green Police Officer Robin Short kept track of the dollar amounts for each girl – allowing them to decide if an item was too much.
“There’s a need out there,” Short said. “And sometimes it’s not about the needs – it’s about building relationships.”
The kids shopping Friday afternoon at Meijer in Bowling Green got plenty of gifts and goodwill from the police officers joining them.
This is the eighth year for the shop with a cop event in Wood County, organized by Dan Van Vorhis of the Wood County Fraternal Order of Police.
Last year, there were 135 kids signed up, with referrals from their schools or area police officers. This year there were 155 – with most of them shopping earlier this month in Perrysburg, and eight shopping Friday at Meijer in Bowling Green.
Each child is given $125 to spend how they wish.
“The community really does step up to donate,” Van Vorhis said.
Many of the officers have heart-tugging stories from their years of shopping with kids in the program.
Bowling Green Detective Sgt. Doug Hartman remembers the children who spend their gift money on socks, underwear and presents for their siblings.
“That’s the sad part,” he said. “Some kids spend more on necessities than they do toys.”
Hartman recalled one little boy.
“He said, ‘Maybe I should get soap.’ That just breaks your heart,” Hartman said.
On Friday, Hartman was paired up with Noah Grant, 16, of North Baltimore. Noah first picked out a shirt, pants and socks – then went to see if the store had the video game he had been wanting – Fallout 76. He described it as a post-apocalyptic wasteland with monsters trying to eat players. Hartman then asked if he needed a new control.
Noah’s eyes lit up. “Yes, please,” he responded.
Tagging along in the background was his mom, Tonia Grant, who found out about the “Shop with a Cop” opportunity from a police officer in North Baltimore.
“This really helps,” said Grant, who said her son’s dad died nine years ago. And her job at Dollar General pays just over minimum wage.
“This is a tremendous help,” she said.
And this is what keeps Hartman coming back each year to help with the shopping.
“Look at the faces of the kids. They have so much fun,” he said.
A few aisles over, Nahla and Alize were making progress filling their carts.
“I’m looking for a family game, because we don’t have a lot of family games,” Nahla said. Her mother had given her pretty much free rein. “The one thing Mom doesn’t allow in the house is ‘slime.’”
Nahla ended up with a pair of fuzzy slippers, and was hugging her cupcake-shaped pillow as she looked at the toys in her cart.
“I might open this right up when I get home,” she said with a big grin, pointing at an LOL Surprise kit (which is apparently a big hit with little girls right now.)
Her sister had a little left to spend, and still wanted a book. She ended up with a copy of “Hunger Games” and “Alice in Wonderland.”
“I’m going to have to borrow that book while you’re sleeping,” her younger sister said about “Alice in Wonderland.”
But while Nahla’s and Alize’s carts were filling up, their shopping partner Jasmine Kazmaier’s cart was still almost empty.
At the request of her mother, Officer Short had helped Jasmine, 11, of Portage, pick out a couple pair of black leggings. But other than that, Jasmine had no idea what she wanted for Christmas.
“I was planning on just getting Christmas presents for other people,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. Jasmine listed off who was on her list – her mom, grandma, brother, sister and even some cousins.
Short patiently went down aisles of the store looking for items for Jasmine to give to others.
“This is a good event – not only for the kids, but also the officers,” Van Vorhis said. “It’s a good way for kids to see officers in a positive light.”
Van Vorhis also organizes a movie night in March for kids and police officers, and then a day of fishing in May where the kids get fishing poles and tackle boxes.
