'Shop with a Cop' serves up Christmas spirit
For 24 years Saline County area officials and officers have come together to ensure children have the holiday season they deserve, and this year is no different.
In 1991, Saline County began the "Shop with a Cop" program and in that first year officials hosted only 10 kids whose families needed help for the holiday season. This year, officials shopped for more than 250 kids.
"We would like to thank all the donors this year as well as those who came out to help shop," police officer Nathan Moore said.
Volunteers from Saline County 4-H, police officers from Harrisburg, Carrier Mills, Eldorado, Saline County Dispatchers and Deputies, Animal Control and Illinois State Police all came together for the "Shop with a Cop" event.
Area schools share the names of families they think might be in need. Donations are raised throughout the year to help provide the money for the purchases.
Saturday morning, Harrisburg McDonald's employees and volunteers prepared sausage biscuits, and biscuits and gravy, for the kids and their families at the Harrisburg Town & Country Lions Club building. McDonald's has sponsored the event since 2005. Prairie Farms donated a total of 400 pint size milk and orange juice cartons; Krispy Kreme Doughnuts gave 20 dozen doughnuts to the event.
At 8 a.m., a line of children, parents, and siblings wrapped around the aisles in the garden center at Harrisburg Walmart, which supplies extra staff to help with the event.
Each child received a sock hat and pair of gloves that Legence Bank donated and then waited their turn to shop for their Christmas gifts.
Toys, clothes, shoes and crafts filled shopping baskets all throughout the aisles of the stores. Some were in need of shampoos, deodorants and soap.
"If they mention they are in need of necessities such as hygiene supplies, we will get that for them in addition to the items they want," Moore said.
In addition to the items purchased Saturday, Peabody Coal Mine pledged to purchase coats for any of kids who are in need.