By Chris Bavender
For 18 years, the Christmas with a Cop program has helped provide Boone County children with warm clothing for the cold winter months ahead.
The program is run by the Boone Co. Fraternal Order of Police Richard G. Brown Memorial Lodge 110, and last year, more than $45,000 was raised to help 420 children age 12 and younger get a winter coat, shoes, boots and clothing. This year’s goal is $55,000, with the need expected to be even greater.
“The amount of children who participate in the program has varied from 350 children to 550 children over the past 10 years,” said Sgt. Craig Fouts with the Boone Co. Sheriff’s Dept.. “We must always prepare for the highest end of the spectrum.”
While the main goal of the program is to provide warm winter clothing, Fouts said the positive interaction between the children and law enforcement is also a huge plus.
“Some of the children may know the officers in a negative manner,” he said. “This helps us as law enforcement build a positive rapport with the children.”
Money for Christmas with a Cop is raised through donations. Letters are sent to residents and businesses in Boone County asking for money for the program. Churches and social and professional groups also raise money to donate to the program.
Applications are then reviewed and home visits made, Fouts said, to verify the children are in need of assistance. Once approved, the kids and their families show up on the shopping date – Dec. 19 at the Lebanon Walmart – to find the clothing items they want.
“While shopping, the officers are roaming in the clothing area to interact with the children,” Fouts said. “The Lebanon Walmart always does a fantastic job at making sure there are enough items to accommodate the amount of children that we have participating.”
Christmas with a Cop also comes with a reward for the officers – the gratitude of the families.
“We have parents who approach us every year thanking the FOP for the program,” Fouts said. “Many parents have told us that without the clothing items they’ve received, the family would not even have a Christmas.”
Donations may be mailed to Christmas with a Cop, P.O. Box 432, Lebanon, IN, 46052.
Applications for the program are available at the Boone Co. Sheriff’s Office and the Lebanon Police Dept. The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Nov. 25.
For more, call 765-482-8397.
