Shop With a Cop is a looked-forward-to event for both members of law enforcement and the children and their families who are helped each Christmas.
Earlier this month, the New Martinsville Police, Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office, and West Virginia State Police, like many other counties, held their annual event. Seventy-five boys and girls total from Wetzel County were helped this Christmas and were able to spend $250 each selecting their most requested toys at the New Martinsville Walmart.
That number was made possible thanks to the generous folks in Wetzel County.
“I think we may have had a few more kids than normal this year, but I know there were a lot of donations. Donations were up,” said Wetzel County Sheriff Mike Koontz. “People always donate for events like this and it amazes me because there are so many in our area out of work, or working less.
“But they still provided an overwhelming amount of support.”
Koontz remembers the first few times he participated in the program back in the 1990s. He admits the dollar amount per child was a bit smaller.
“We could only afford $100 per kid back then, of course, it seems like $100 back then got you as much stuff as $250 does today,” Koontz said.
Koontz isn’t exactly sure when the program started, but knows it went on hiatus for a time. He credits New Martinsville Police Chief Tim Cecil with reviving the program 12 years ago.
“He’s largely responsible for getting it going again here locally,” Koontz said.
Staying Within the ‘Budget’
Both the sheriff and the police chief, along with deputies, officers, and troopers from the WVSP all shop with kids of varying ages.
But is it difficult to reign in the wide-eyed wonder of kids having $250 to spend as they wish? Surprisingly no, according to Koontz.
“It depends on the ages, but it seems like the older kids are more likely to only buy a couple big ticket items that they really want, but they are old enough to understand that, if they want say, a video game, they’re not going to be able to get six of them,” Koontz said.
“The little kids tend to go more for buying a lot of the smaller toys.”
That amount can go a long way or be used to get a couple of major items for the young shoppers. Regardless of amount, it provides the youth a chance to have a more memorable Christmas than they might have otherwise missed.
“Most of the kids are really good about understanding this is how much they have to spend,” Koontz said.
Schools Help Out
Koontz isn’t aware of any child either needing assistance or being referred to the Shop With a Cop program being turned away.
For the most part, it’s the local school systems that help identify the children most in need.
“We really rely on the school system,” Koontz said. “The teachers, they know these kids and their families, and they know who to recommend.”
The event wasn’t only special for the kids and members of law enforcement.
A few days following the event, the New Martinsville Police Department posted a video submitted to it on its Facebook page.
A woman saw the officers and kids shopping together and was touched by the joy witnessed on the faces of all involved. It was her way of giving thanks and showing her appreciation.
In a perfect world, these types of programs wouldn’t be needed. But the Ohio Valley, whether experiencing a prosperous year or trudging through the rigors of a pandemic, always bands together for those most in need.
