The law enforcement officers of Grays Harbor County will once again be hosting the annual “Shop with a Cop,” charity. The event, which was canceled last year due to COVID restrictions, pairs local officers with deserving children who select Christmas gifts for themselves and their loved ones.
Up to 60 students are selected by the local elementary schools of Grays Harbor County on the basis of their “hard work, kindness, and good citizenship.” Each student receives a $100 Walmart gift card to make their holiday purchases and are paired with a member of Grays Harbor Law Enforcement to enjoy the day.
The day helps brighten the holiday season for all participants, with officers appreciating the positivity that is often lacking in their work, said event coordinator Sgt. Shane Krohn.
“There are many officers that come back each year to participate because of how touched they have been by children in the past. I know of one full-time officer in Grays Harbor, who actually participated as he was selected as a child for the event.”
Festivities begin at Hoquiam High School at 6:45 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 4, where students and their assigned law enforcement partner will enjoy a free breakfast of biscuits and gravy cooked by the Hoquiam High School Creative Foods Teacher Janice Pumphrey and her class. Students will also be able to grab a picture with Santa, and the photos will be available for pickup at Walmart later in the day.
After breakfast students are escorted to Walmart with a convoy of police cars. The procession includes full lights and sirens, which children will get to sound before departing Hoquiam High School.
Shop with a Cop is a nationwide event that was brought to Grays Harbor by Betty Crass of Montesano in 1998.
This is Krohn’s first year coordinating the event, having taken it over last year from Kim Adams.
The Hoquiam Police Department will also be running the giving tree, which will be displayed in the police department lobby. The event was constructed as a pandemic-friendly way to provide for local families after Shop with a Cop was canceled.
The tree is decorated with notes sharing the needs of 10 deserving families identified by the Hoquiam School District.
The public is encouraged to take the notes, purchase the gifts, and return them either wrapped or unwrapped to the department by Dec. 13 for delivery.
