Walmart Boston butt sale to benefit Shop With a Cop
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Boston butts are being sold today in the Harrisburg Walmart parking lot to benefit the Harrisburg Fraternal Order of Police and their annual Shop With a Cop event, which aims to provide Christmas gifts to children in Saline County who may not otherwise receive anything.
Roger Twenhafel, of Quality Cove Kitchen and Bath and the Barbecue Roadshow out of Murphysboro, donated his time and use of his smoker for the sale. Walmart purchased the Boston butts.
"They were the ones that put this together in cooperation with Walmart," said Harrisburg Police Investigator Curt Hustedde, who was out helping with the sale Tuesday morning. "They approached me about it."
This is the first year they've held the sale, though Hustedde said Walmart makes a generous donation to the Shop With a Cop program every year.
Hustedde said he hopes that starting fundraising for the event earlier in the year will allow officers to spend more money on each child who participates in Shop With a Cop this December.
"The goal is to either help more kids or be able to spend more money on the kids," he said.
Each year, 300-400 kids participate in Shop With a Cop, which invites youngsters who may not otherwise have a good Christmas to come to Wal-Mart and shop for gifts with an officer or volunteer.
Officers first ensure the kids have a warm winter coat and clothes for school, then head to the toy aisle so the children will have something exciting to unwrap on Christmas morning. Last year, officers were able to spend $75 on each child.
The Boston butts will be for sale in the Walmart parking lot all day, or as long as supplies last.