Shop with a Cop
BUTLER TWP — With gift cards in hand, pairs of police officers and children hit Walmart's toy department in search of Christmas joy.
On Friday, several police departments partnered with the Walmart in Butler Township to give more than 40 Butler Area School District students $100 Christmas shopping trips. Children wandered through the store with police officers by their side as part of Butler's first Shop with a Cop event.
Many Walmart stores in the region hold similar events, but it's new to Butler. In total, 48 officers showed up from several departments. Police forces from Butler Township, the city of Butler, state police, Penn Township and Veterans Affairs all participated, as did Drug Enforcement Agency agents and the county sheriff's office.
Butler County Sheriff Mike Slupe got the ball rolling in talks with Walmart's staff, then brought on board Butler Township Police Chief John Hays and Brian Slamecka, Butler's assistant superintendent, to help organize. The event grew from there.
“It's a genuine pleasure to watch the faces and reactions of joy as these kids shop,” Slupe said, surrounded by grocery carts, toys, kids and cops.
The Walmart in Butler Township gave $2,000 in gift cards to the effort, and the Walmart Foundation donated another $3,000, according to Angela Fleeger, market manager.With the money lined up, police started spreading the word to assemble a group of officers to participate. Their cars sat in a long lineup in front of the store Friday.The school district's administrators put out word to its principals, and the principals worked with their staffs to identify children who would make good candidates for the event.Butler Township officer Tyler Collins walked the aisles with 9-year-old Karma Wike with a cart full of goodies.Karma leaned over the edge of the cart with a look of disbelief.“Where is this stuff going after we're done?” Karma asked.
Collins looked back. “Home with you,” he exclaimed.“Really?” she said.Several of the officers at the event were amazed at the generosity of the children. Karma, for example, picked out some items for her sibling. She also grabbed a new bingo dauber for her grandmother.“She plays bingo, and she only has two colors,” Karma explained.While nearby Cranberry Township has hosted Shop with a Cop events in past years, this was the first for Butler. Organizers said they hope to make it an annual tradition.Hays said the whole event seemed to fall into place once everyone heard about it.“Seeing the kids going around with the officers, it makes you feel great,” Hays said.
