Cops and Kids Holiday Shopping Event Returns to Dubois County

By Kris Norton

Jasper – On Wednesday, the Cops and Kids shopping event run by local law enforcement will see the purchasing of holiday presents for local children.

Jasper Police Department Sergeant Adam Bauer joined Justin Howard on WITZ for this week’s special edition of Springs Valley Bank and Trust Community Feature Series.

Through Tri-Cap’s Head Start Program, members of the Fraternal Order of Police will join at the Jasper Walmart at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning to make the holiday season merrier for local children. While children will be receiving items on their “want” list, Bauer says the focus is on the childrens’ “needs”.

“We spend $150 dollars on each kid, and this year we’re shopping for 50 kids, and we try to do 75-80% of needs,” Bauer said. “And then obviously, it’s Christmas, they’ve got to have the wants, they’ve got to have the fun.”

Under normal circumstances, the children would also be at Walmart picking out their own items, though the 2020 campaign needed to be altered. Due to Dubois County’s COVID-19 Orange Advisory, the 2021 campaign will also be altered.

“The thing that makes it a little bit hard with them not being there is we’ve got to do our best to decide what they want,” Bauer said. “Hopefully, if the parents are listening, they’ve got the cards right, that we use to shop off of, and sizes are correct.

This year will not include a parade, as is usually included.

Aside from filling the needs of Dubois County children, Bauer says, the hope is that children may see uniformed officers in a new light.

“It breaks down barriers between law enforcement and the kids,” Bauer said. “The kids that we’re shopping for, maybe, don’t always see us in the best light.”

“This may just turn their thoughts a little bit, and help them to see that we are real people, we’re good people, we’re there to help, we’re not here to hurt, and we want to do everything we can to support them,” Bauer added.

In addition to the Jasper Police Department, the DNR, Indiana State Police – Jasper Post, Dubois County Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office, SWICACC, and Community Corrections participate in the campaign.

Though the shopping event takes place on Wednesday, the bills won’t be paid until January – meaning that there is still time left to make donations. Banking for the event is handled through Springs Valley Bank and Trust.

Donations can be made at Dubois County Springs Valley Branches, given to any police officer, or brought into any police department. The memo line on a check should indicate that the payment is intended for Cops and Kids.