MUSCATINE, Iowa–For 31 years, the Muscatine Police Department has given the gift of giving at the holiday season, helping Muscatine Community School District students in need pick out gifts for themselves and their families through the Shop with a Cop program. In the second full week of December, the department took 85 students in many different grades to Walmart in Muscatine to select their gifts.
For each Shop with a Cop event, the Muscatine Police Department works with Muscatine Community School District to identify students who could use some support at the holidays and who would benefit from spending time with positive adult role models. This year, the department chose to include the children of several Ukrainian refugee families in their outings, giving them a positive experience during their first winter in the United States. Officer Whitni Pena, who helps organize Shop with a Cop explained, “we thought since they will now be members of our community this was the least we could do to help them celebrate Christmas this year.”
Due to the large number of children the department can help each year, Shop with a Cop stretches over two evenings. Each night, 15-20 Muscatine police officers accompany students to Walmart, letting them select the gifts they would most like to have. “The students enjoy getting to pick out whatever they want, Pena shared: “Some of these students frequent Walmart and have looked at certain toys but are not able to buy them. We allow them free-range of the store (obviously within budget) to get whatever they want.”
A special opportunity for the Muscatine Police Department to assist students in need, Pena always welcomes the chance to make the holidays brighter for children and their families: “This event brings so much joy to so many of our children within our community. They are so thankful and excited to be able to pick out whatever they want,” she said, adding, “the parents are also very thankful for the opportunity to participate.” This year, Pena felt touched to receive a text from a parent saying: “You guys are the best!!! Thank you so much. It definitely does help. You have no idea what this means to us!”
To make Shop with a Cop possible, the Muscatine Police Department holds an annual contribution campaign that typically brings in between $6,000 and $8,000 to cover the costs of taking each student shopping. Pena feels honored to receive such a showing of community support each year: “Most of those donations come from businesses and local community members that have been donating for years. We are so blessed with so much support,” she stated.
With inflation driving up the cost of many of the items children like to get though Shop with a Cop, such as toys, games, and clothing, Pena hopes to increase the amount of donations the Muscatine Police Department brings in for next year. If you would like to support Shop with a Cop, you may make a check out to the Muscatine Police Officers Association and deliver it to the drop box in the police department’s lobby or mail it to 312 E 5th St #1 Muscatine, IA 52761. Pena also encourages partnerships between Shop with a Cop and other local events, such as Rockin’ on Second Street.
