Shopping with cops lifts spirits for kids – Salisbury Post

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Abram, 8, was primarily quiet and serious during Saturday’s shopping trip with Landis police, but when he put on his new bike helmet and hopped on the bicycle he would take home, he came up with a shy smile even if he ducked his head.
Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci

Kassidy, 8, was tickled with her new bear foot slippers, not only because they are fluffy and soft, but because they were, of course, pink. During Saturday’s Shop with a Cop, Kassidy tried, in vain, to convince her mother to let her buy a smaller matching pair for her cousin.
Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci

Master Police Officer Melvin Snipes tries to convince Winter that she needs a child’s interactive book about a dinosaur. She’s amused, as is his wife, Connie, looking on, but in the end, Winter chose a slightly different book during the Shop with a Cop event.
Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci

Megan Young helps Josiah, 7, look for the perfect set of headphones during Saturday’s Shop with a Cop in Landis. In the background, his older brother Giovanni is interested in video games.
Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci

Lazarus, 2, takes the hands of Officer Benfield and Sgt. Watts in the WaMart parking lot as he gets ready to shop with Landis cops for Christmas.
Photo by Elisabeth Strillacci

LANDIS — Twelve children ranging in age from two to 17 spent Saturday morning with Landis police officers, including the chief, in the best way possible.

The annual Shop with a Cop kicked off with a waffle breakfast at the Royal Oaks Baptist Church in Kannapolis, where Police Chief Matthew Geelen is the youth pastor. After breakfast, officers, children and family members headed to Walmart for shopping, and then to get ice cream from the local Landis creamery.

“This is always a wonderful opportunity to connect our officers with our kids,” said Geelen. “A chance for kids to get to know police as approachable, as friends.”

The department has partnered with the church for two years now, and Pastor Andy Downs says he sees the event as “a chance to share God’s love with these children, these families and these officers.”

School counselors make the recommendations for participants in the program each year, and the amount each child has to spend is determined by funds raised. This year, donors and sponsors came together to give each child a $600 budget.

“And it always amazes me that every time, the children always want to get gifts for others in their family,” said Geelen. “They ask about getting gifts for mom, dad, brothers, sisters. They always want to share this.”

And they did. A number of the children picked out bicycles, some chose electronics, but every one of them did not shop for themselves alone.

Winter, who at 17 was the oldest of the group, said she felt a little odd about shopping.

“It’s not that I’m not grateful, I very much am,” she said. “It just feels uncomfortable to spend money on myself.” In addition to gifts for others, she did choose a new camera, noting that she’s wanted to be a photographer since she was young. “I don’t know, maybe that dream won’t come true, but I love photography,” she said. And then she was ready to look for a few books.

She broke into laughter when Master Police Officer Melvin Snipes tried to convince her (and his wife, Connie) that she needed a children’s book about a dinosaur that made noises when you pressed different parts of the dinosaur’s body.

“This is just my speed,” he said, winking. Though she thought it was hilarious, Winter decided on a different book.

Kassidy, 8, chose pink down the line, from Barbies to a princess dress to bear foot slippers that were, still, pink, before she was ready to pick out gifts for all the members of her family. Mommy was along to help her pick out the perfect gifts.

Abram, 8, had a little help picking out the best bike helmet from Tiffany and Jason Fox. Jason is a retired police officer and they are both members of the Royal Oaks Church.

“Jason just loves this, he can’t let it go,” said Tiffany. “He loves being here with the kids.” And Abram, normally a fairly quiet, reserved little boy, opened up as the morning went along, at one point donning his new helmet astride his new bike for photos, and managing a shy smile.

Two of the boys who participated, brothers, debated over things they needed to get (clothing) versus what they wanted to get (toys). In the end, they agreed they would get a little of each.

Tina Lee and her husband are foster parents to three boys who participated Saturday. The youngest, Lazarus, might not be talking just yet at two, but his face showed his delight as he traveled along with his police officers in hand, literally. In the parking lot, waiting to go in to Walart, Lazarus took both Officer Benfield and Sgt. Watts by the hand, trusting they would lead him to treasure.

Brothers Giovanni, 12, and Josiah, 7, were happy to head to electronics where Josiah had headphones in mind, and Megan Young, who is the wife of the Landis Deputy Chief Kevin Young, helped him find just what he was looking for.

The children were allowed to use every penny of their $600 budget, since Geelen noted the department would cover the taxes. Walmart had a particular register set aside for the group to make checkout faster and easier.

The group ended the day with ice cream and laughter at the Landis Creamery before heading to the Landis police department to disburse.

“This has been wonderful,” said father and son officers Buddy Porter Sr. and Buddy Porter Jr., who not only work patrol together from time to time, but also “get to do these great things together, with some awesome kids.”

Geelen said he wanted to thank all the sponsors, “because without them, this doesn’t happen. And I hope they know how much this means to these kids, and to us, and continue to sponsor it.” Sponsors include Royal Oaks Baptist Church, Hendrick Motorsports, Tim Marburger Chevrolet, Pinnacle Corrugated, Joe Dirt, Vanquish Signs, Jackson Park Baptist Church, Dominion Energy, Libby’s Pit Stop, Happy Day Daycare, Morgan Demolition, Hatley’s Construction, R&H Produce, Industrial Supply Solutions, The Golden Circle Club, First Horizon Bank, Landis Plumbing, Brothers Tire, The Golden Rack Boutique, Thread Shed and Frank Corriher.