Members of the Bloomington Police Department, Indiana University Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ellettsville Police Department helped 108 children buy clothes, and toys for Christmas during Shop with a Cop, organized by the Don Owens Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88, Sunday morning.
Members of law enforcement gathered at Bloomington’s Walmart Sunday morning before 8 a.m., and helped children and their families shop. Paul Post, the president of FOP Lodge 88 said the event has been held annually for at least 25 years.
According to Post, children are selected for the program with help from the MCCSC, Big Brothers Big Sisters, county trustees, direct referrals, and police. Each child has a budget of approximately 100-dollars for clothes, and 25 dollars for a toy, said post. Post added, the amount isn’t exactly 125 dollars for each child, but shoppers are encouraged to keep it close. Children and their families are encouraged to buy socks, underwear, coats, and items for other needs, said Bill Conway, Vice President of FOP Lodge 88.
The cost to buy the clothes, and toys for the 108 children was about 13,500-dollars, and Post said that money is raised throughout the year with partnerships, fundraising, and direct donations, with the largest contributor being Moose Lodge 1081. The FOP tries to work with others, like the Bloomington Fire Department, and Salvation Army, that also help provide Christmas gifts, and clothing to area children, to not give to the same families, so as many children as possible can be helped, said Post.
Shop with a Cop is part of an annual event that takes place around the United States, retired Indiana Police Department police officer Don Schmuhl said he helped begin the program in Monroe County during the early 90s with the late Bob Neely, a former Bloomington Police Officer, and Vice President of FOP Lodge 88. Schmuhl said the event was first held at the old Eastside K-Mart, which has closed, and then later at Sears, which has closed, and been torn down, before finally at Walmart, where it is presently held.
Elllettsville Police Officer Gail Jones, right, helps Kim Kent, who is shopping with her grandson LeBron Kent, left, during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Zion Tooley, third from left, chooses a toy during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Bloomington Police Officer Jennifer Stevens, left, shops with Gracie Livingston, center, and her father Jad Livingston, during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Elllettsville Police Officer Gail Jones, right, shops with Kim Kent, left, and her grandson LeBron Kent, during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Bloomington Police Officer Jennifer Stevens, left, shops with Gracie Livingston, right, and her mother Billie Livingston during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Bloomington Police Officer Jennifer Stevens, right, helps Gracie Livingston choose clothing, during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Bloomington Police Officer Jennifer Stevens, right, helps Gracie Livingston choose clothing, during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Bloomington Police Officer Jennifer Stevens, left, and Billie Livingston, right, help Gracie Livingston choose clothing, during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Brian Kincade looks up at Rachel Tooley while choosing clothes with the help of IUPD Detective Sgt. Rebecca Schmuhl, right, during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Brian Kincade holds onto Amina Tooley during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Monroe County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jason Miller helps a family keep track of purchases during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
Brian Kincade tries on a hat during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
IUPD Detective Sgt. Rebecca Schmuhl, fifth from left, helps a family during Shop with a Cop, Sunday, December 8, 2019 in Bloomington, Ind. Members of law enforcement from Monroe County including members of the IUPD, Bloomington Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and Ellettsville Police Department participated in the event organized by the Don Owens Memorial Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88. (Photo by Jeremy Hogan/The Bloomingtonian)
