Donations trickling in for Shop With a Cop

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Harrisburg's Fraternal Order of Police No. 152 is accepting donations for its Shop With a Cop charity that happens the morning of Dec. 13.

There police of the municipalities and Saline County Sheriff's staff will have breakfast with the children at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and then begin shopping for clothing and Christmas presents at 9 a.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

"We always try to have 15 from each school (in the county)," Harrisburg Officer Michael Riden said.

There are always a few extra because the pupils often have siblings the police will also shop for.

Donations are trickling in.

"It's still early, but they are slow coming in and that always makes us nervous," Harrisburg Police Chief Bob Smith said.

People may make checks to "Shop With a Cop Fraternal Order of Police" and mail them to P.O. Box 152, Harrisburg, Ill. 62946.

The program is intended to both brighten a child's face at Christmastime and to build trust in police officers.

-- DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.