The Wood County Fraternal Order of Police is again hosting its annual Cops and Kids Holiday Shopping Event on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Meijer in Rossford and then on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Meijer in Bowling Green. Police officers are paired up with a child from the area and provided a gift card to spend on clothing and toys. This is more than just about shopping – it is about building a positive relationship between the kids and officers.
Last year, local law enforcement was able to take 174 kids shopping. The majority of the financial support comes from the community, local businesses and local organizations. The FOP could not achieve this without the support of the community. This event is a great opportunity for law enforcement and the community to work together to make local children’s holiday season a little brighter.
The kids who are invited to participate are referred by the local schools as well as from the officers. On a daily basis, police officers are responding to calls here in Wood County. As a result, they are in homes where they can see firsthand that a particular family could benefit from a helping hand. The officers are paired up with a child from their jurisdiction and given a cart, a gift card and sent on their way to shop and more importantly, build a positive relationship.
Every dollar raised is spent on the kids. Officers are currently selling $5 raffle tickets as well as accepting donations. Anyone interested in donating may use Venmo at Wood-FOP, message FOP #109 through Facebook or call 419-353-9728.
