BRIDGEPORT – Bridgeport Exempted Village School District recognized some longtime partners who have helped give a Merry Christmas through the years to kiddos who might not otherwise have had presents under the tree.
During their May 13 meeting the board of education welcomed President Kristy Bellville and Treasurer Chuck Bellville of the Thin Blue Line FOPA Lodge 100, who help organize the yearly Shop with a Cop program where police officers accompany families on a shopping trip ahead of the holiday.
Kristy said working with Bridgeport Schools is always special.
“They’re fabulous. They’ve come to us once or twice and asked us to help them with a couple different things. We always donate what we can. If they need something, we’re always available to give them whatever money they need.”
She added the group holds fundraisers all year long, with five or six major raffles a year, in conjunction with events such as the Bridgeport Police Department gun bash. This also allows them to support the police department.
They said the community’s generosity makes Shop with a Cop possible. Thanks go to the donors.
“We have a lot of people behind the scenes that do donate money whenever we need it.”
Kristy said this past Christmas they provided gifts for 64 children and spent more than $10,000. Chuck said the number of young people has only grown since they first started. They provide $150 per child.
“We have a handful of donors that help us a lot,” Chuck said. He said people often approach him at Sunshop Sunoco and Carry Outwhere he works and ask to help.
“I have customers that take tickets and sell for me. People out of the blue, they come in and help us do a lot of stuff.”
Kristy said watching the children’s eyes light up with the spirit of Christmas is rewarding.
“It’s so wonderful, just seeing how happy. A lot of the kids want to buy for family members that don’t have things. They want to buy for their mom or their dad. We’re trying to tell them: ‘No, this is for you.’”
Chuck said partnering with Bridgeport Schools is a treat. They see firsthand the care and investment the district has in its children.
“They show up at Walmart with us and help us set the kids up and send them out. They make it easy for us. We just show up and help them. They organize the kids. They send them out with people.”
Kristy added they can always rely on Bridgeport Middle School Principal Anne Haverty Lawson.
Chuck added they were able to donate about $2,000 to the district’s Secret Santa program two years past.
Superintendent Brent Ripley said this partnership can be strengthened in the future. He suggested the multipurpose facility to be dubbed “the Bridge” could serve as a new location for community events and fundraisers such as the police department’s gun bash.
“We want to do anything we can to continue to help,” he said. “You guys do great work.”
For more information, contact the Bridgeport Police Department or the Sunshop Sunoco and Carry Outin Bridgeport where Chuck works. The group meets the first Thursday of every month at the Bridgeport Police Department.
