Local law enforcement officers played chauffeurs and shopping buddies for a record 22 Chaffee County fourth-graders Saturday, during the annual Shop with a Cop event.
More than $16,000 was raised this year for the program, which provides funds for less advantaged kids to purchase gifts.
Funds were raised through the Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event in October and donations from other sources, including private individuals.
The amount meant the opportunity could be extended to 22 fourth-graders from Buena Vista and Salida. In 2022 the amount raised was $6,000 which provided the experience for 12 Chaffee County youngsters.
Teachers at Avery-Parsons Elementary School in Buena Vista and Longfellow Elementary School in Salida nominated students. Twelve kids from Buena Vista and 10 from Salida were selected to take part in the annual event. Each child was provided with $400 to spend on Christmas gifts for their families.
Longfellow Elementary School fourth-grader Tristan Carpenter, 9, said, “I love it. I’ve never done this before, so I’m excited.”
Anna Johnson, the original organizer of the event 15 years ago, said there was even enough to fulfill a request to buy glasses for two Longfellow students whose families didn’t have the funds.
Salida Police Chief Russ Johnson said some of the balance which includes the change left over from this year’s shopping sprees, will be used to purchase wrapping supplies for next year’s program after Christmas, Whatever is left will be rolled over into next year’s event.
Heart of the Rockies Radio president and COO Gary Buchanan, a member of the Vaqueros, the welcoming branch of Heart of the Rockies Chamber of Commerce, said he was pleased with the amount raised and hoped to expand the program further next year. “It’s great for the kids and families in need and shows kids the cops are great people in the community.
The Shop with a Cop event started out at Salida SteamPlant ballroom with kids being paired with volunteers from Salida Police Department, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Buena Vista Police Department and Colorado Parks and Wildlife/Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area.
Lunch for the group was provided by Amicas Pizza and Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop.
Johnson said the group was encouraged to do some of their shopping in the downtown area. For many, that meant a first stop to Kaleidoscope Toys. Other F Street businesses that benefitted from the kids’ visits included The Mixing Bowl, Seasons Celebrations, Brown Dog Coffee Company and Salida Pharmacy and Fountain. Johnson used some of the funds to set up tabs at Brown Dog and The Fountain so that all the participants had a chance to grab a hot drink or some ice cream during their shopping trip.
Other local businesses that cops and shoppers visited included Ace Hardware, Murdoch’s and Walmart.
At Walmart, Salida Police Sgt. Corey Orth and his shopping buddy Aolani Cook experienced some seasonal generosity firsthand when the man behind them in the checkout line insisted on paying for Aolani’s gifts. He turned out to be a former Georgia State Patrol officer who, after being injured on the job, had switched to education, and spent more than 20 years as a principal. The impromptu gift totaled about $370.
After a whirlwind trip around town fulfilling kids’ shopping lists, kids and cops returned to the SteamPlant to wrap presents before they were picked up by parents.
In addition to the gifts they bought, kids also received a full stocking with their name on it and a gift from the law enforcement community.
Buena Vista Police Chief Dean Morgan said the event is a great way to connect with the community and “share the wealth” with the less fortunate. “It provides interaction with kids so they can see police as people who can help them.
Chief Johnson said the event is fun for the law enforcement officers and gives kids contact with law enforcement in a positive way.
D.J. went to the University of Colorado in Boulder and graduated in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in English. She went on to get a teaching certificate and went to work as an educator for Denver Public Schools.
Following a 25-year teaching career in Denver, D.J. moved to Chaffee County in 2013. For the next ten years she worked, first as a copy assistant, then as a full-time reporter. After six years following and reporting local news, she took a step back in 2023 to work on other projects.
She enjoys connecting with the community and is excited to get back to writing community and human-interest stories highlighting the people of central Colorado.
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