Local law enforcement helps brighten Christmas for kids

Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Fort Scott Police Lt. Shaun West helps a local youngster select clothing at Walmart during Sunday's Southeast Kansas Fraternal Order of Police Cops and Kids Christmas Shopping Event 2010. (Submitted Photo)

With the help of donations, local law enforcement made Christmas a little merrier for more than 20 local youngsters.

The Southeast Kansas Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 63 selected 22 kids from age 5-16 to participate in the FOP Cops and Kids Christmas Shopping Event 2010. Youngsters and officers walked through Walmart Sunday to pick out items the children would like for Christmas, Bourbon County Undersheriff Bill Martin said.

Martin said the event, first held last year, served more children this year. Last year, 14 children were selected. Because of the current economic situation, donations for the event were lower, Martin said. However, the economy is also what drove the group to serve more children.

Martin added the event was successful, despite each of the children receiving less money than last year.

"Due to the economic issues that businesses and individuals are facing today, contributions and donations were slow or smaller," he said. "We had to reduce it ... to get more kids to participate in the program."

As the officers accompanied the children, they encouraged them to purchase clothing and other necessary items before picking out toys. Martin said the reason for that was because having new clothes can change a person's attitude.

"If you buy clothing, you feel better about yourself, you have more confidence in yourself," he said.

Martin visited the home of each child selected a week before the event to inform them that they had been chosen. The response he received was tremendous.

"They were just overwhelmed. They couldn't say thanks enough," he said.

Most of the items picked out by the children were clothing and toys, nothing out of the ordinary. However, the children participating in the event were not just thinking of themselves, Martin said. Several used a portion of their money to purchase gifts for members of their families.

"They weren't thinking of themselves, they were thinking of others," he said. "They were sharing the experience."

Martin said SEK FOP gets applications from the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services and school officials.

Children talk to their teachers about their lives at home and the teachers then talk to the counselors, he said.

He added schools and SRS would know the children in the most need.

"They are the ones in more contact with the families than law enforcement," he said.

Three officers from the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office were joined by five officers from the Fort Scott Police Department and one Kansas Highway Patrol trooper for the shopping expedition.

SEK FOP is made up of officers from law enforcement agencies in Crawford and Bourbon counties. Members of the Pittsburg Police Department, Frontenac Police Department and Crawford County Sheriff's Office held their FOP Cops and Kids Christmas Shopping Event Saturday at the Walmart in Pittsburg. Their event benefited 35 children.

The shopping event is funded by donations from individuals and local businesses. For more information about SEK FOP, or if you would like to donate to next year's program, contact Martin at (620) 223-1440. Donations can also be mailed to P.O. Box 1477, Pittsburg, Kan., 66762.