WEST LIBERTY, Iowa–Doing a little holiday shopping to find the perfect gifts for friends and family, and maybe even a little something for yourself, represents an important tradition for many people. As in years past, the West Liberty Police Department has made this experience possible for students in need throughout West Liberty Community School District. Dec. 7, members of the West Liberty Police Department, along with five other regional agencies, took 20 students in kindergarten through eighth grade shopping at the Muscatine Walmart. Thanks to the generous donations of $11,677 that came in this year, the West Liberty Police Department hopes to take up to 12 high school students shopping as well.
Before this year’s Shop with a Cop event, the West Liberty Police Department collaborated with West Liberty Community School District to select a group of students that would benefit from participating in Shop with a Cop. On the day of the event, all of the students traveled to Walmart to do their shopping. West Liberty Police Chief Eric Werling and the other officers who helped put on the event found it heartwarming, as it gave the students opportunities they may not have had otherwise and allowed them to find ways to make the holidays special for their families and themselves. “Many of the children were incredibly selfless and bought gifts for their families before they got anything for themselves,” Werling shared.
Following their shopping trip, all of the students and officers went back to the West Liberty Community Center to enjoy a pizza lunch and an afternoon filled with activities, crafts, and games. Santa Claus himself also made a stop to visit with each of the kids.
A highlight of the holiday season, Werling always looks forward to Shop with a Cop: “Whether its monetary donations, food donations, or volunteers coming to make the event happen, it’s wonderful to see the West Liberty community and surrounding communities all band together to make this a success. That being said, nothing beats watching a child’s eyes light up as they are finding the perfect gift for a family member or when they find that one gift they have been wanting all year that they get to choose for themself.”
This year, many different organizations and private donors made this year’s Shop with a Cop possible. Active Health Chiropractic, All American Concrete, Aquarius Club, Cedar Valley UMC, First Church United Endowment Fund, Liberty Communications, Lions Club of West Liberty. MidWestOne Bank, Rotary Club of West Liberty, Simpson Memorial Home, Walmart, West Liberty Foods, West Liberty State Bank, and XR – Xtreme Renovations each made donations as well as private donors, the top five of which will receive a 30 minute massage courtesy Active Health Chiropractic. Casey’s, Giri BP, Jeff’s Market, Paul Revere’s, and Subway also made in kind donations of food as well.
If anyone would like to contribute to next year’s Shop with a Cop, they may bring cash or check directly to the West Liberty Police Department at 409 North Calhoun Street in West Liberty or by making a tax deductible donation to WeLead and putting Shop with a Cop on the subject line of the check. “The more donations we can secure, the more children we can include in this event!” Werling emphasized.
