The smiling faces of children will fill up the Walmart Supercenter in Benton on Tuesday, Dec. 15 as “Shop With Our Cops” returns for the 17th year. Officers from the Benton Police Department will join other local police agencies at 6 p.m. to help over 50 children participate in a shopping trip, which will ensure the children will have gifts to give their family this Christmas.
The tradition of officers assisting children in this shopping spree began in 1998 by the Saline County Chaplains Association in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies. It was designed to help provide gifts to children who otherwise would not have any gifts for Christmas, and allows the children to purchase gifts for their family or friends in need.
The participating children are selected, based on individual need, through a process utilizing school counselors and the Saline County Chaplains Association. Donations from local individuals and area organizations funds the annual event. Other law enforcement agencies participating in the event includes officers from Alexander, Arkansas Health Center, Bauxite, Haskell, Shannon Hills police departments and the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.
For more information or to donate to “Shop With Our Cops” contact Chaplain Tamera Gore at: chaptgore@hotmail.com