T-R FILE PHOTO — Allison Ashby and officer Eric Siemens let their sweet tooths get the better of them as they make their way down the chocolate aisle picking out treats for Allison’s family during the 2019 Shop with a Cop. The Fraternal Order of Police is bringing the event back for this holiday season.

The time of year has come when Marshalltown people begin thinking about Shop with a Cop. The annual activity makes it possible for officers to help children from families in need shop for Christmas presents for their family members.

Marshalltown Police Department Officer Stephen Sheets, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge #2, said the dates for Shop with a Cop have not been set yet. However, they usually aim for the first or second week in December. The shopping is spread out over the course of two days.

Shop with a Cop is funded entirely through donations to the FOP. Some donations in 2024 include the $1,250 from the Marshalltown Evening Lions Club and $400 from the Times-Republican.

“We have a little over $8,300 in the account as of now,” Sheets said. “We like to raise as much as we can, as Shop with Cop funds only go to this event and any that is left over just goes to the next year’s event.”

The number of kids who get to go shopping depends on how much money is in the account. The officers will spend at most $90 on each child.

“Last year we shopped for approximately 87 kids,” he said. “This took about $13,000. Historically I believe we have shopped for around 40 to 50 kids. The last few years it has jumped up to about 80 each year. I would estimate that with the funds we have now we can shop for about 60 to 65 kids.”

Through the years since the event was implemented, he said the FOP has worked with a variety of organizations to gather names of kids to help each year.

“This year we will go through the elementary schools in town to get a list of kids,” Sheets said. The officers will shop with children aged 5 to 11. He said they can make exceptions for 4- and 12-year-olds, but they are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Wanting to make sure all law enforcement can participate, Sheets will post the opportunity so officers in both MPD shifts and any Marshall County Sheriff’s Office deputies can see it.

“I usually just ask for volunteers and have had no problem having enough officers to shop with the kids,” he said. “We have also had Meskwaki and Tama Police Department also volunteer. State Center Police Department has helped in the past, but I believe they do their own shop with a cop now.”

TO DONATE:

Sheets said people and organizations who want to donate should send an email to FOPLodge02@gmail.com. He stressed 100 percent of all of the funds are used for the kids’ Christmas shopping.

——

Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.