Kids ‘Shop With a Cop’ to pick perfect presents
In Westminster, Cockeysville, they buy gifts for family
As 7-year-old Brian Cross wandered the aisles of Wal-Mart on Saturday in search of the perfect holiday gifts for his family members, he had an unlikely pair of helpers: Two recruits from the Westminster police academy.
Brian and recruits Evan Kinsey and Joseph Tebo spent the morning hunting presents as part of Shop With a Cop, a nationwide program that gives children in need an opportunity to buy gifts for loved ones during the holiday season.
In Baltimore County, police held their 15th annual Shop with a Cop event. The county’s event is the largest in the state.
About 100 officers arrived at the Cockeysville Wal-Mart with about 110 kids, a police spokesman said. The Optimist Clubs of Baltimore County provided funds for the children: Each one got $100 to spend however they wanted. Students from Dulaney High School performed holiday music for the shoppers.
After shopping, the children and officers went to Outback for breakfast.
The Westminster program, in its 13th year, has benefited 268 children from 119 families in need. In Westminster, each child is given a $150 gift card that may be used only to purchase presents for family members for the holidays.
As a reward for their selflessness, after the shopping spree the children were given presents of their own, donated by community members and wrapped by officers and volunteers.
This year, 18 children from seven families joined police at the Wal-Mart in Westminster.
Police Chief Jeff Spaulding said he looks forward to the event all year.
“It’s always a great opportunity when we get to get out and interact with the community, with kids especially, who oftentimes only see police officers when something bad is happening,” Spaulding said. “This is an opportunity to get to know us on a personal level and see us in a more positive light.”
The day kicked off with a hot breakfast inside the Wal-Mart as officers and volunteers spent the time getting to know their young partners for the shopping spree.
Kinsey and Tebo asked Brian about his life, his interest in video games, and his plans for the holiday season.
When he told them he wanted to grow up to be a surgeon, Tebo had a word of encouragement.
“I bet you’d make a great surgeon,” Tebo said. “Look, if you work real hard, you’ll be a doctor one day; I promise you that.”
Tebo, a former Marine, is in the seventh week of the 27-week police academy.
“Service is just something I’ve always been passionate about,” he said. “I have a child at home as well, so any time I have the opportunity to help a child and make them feel good about themselves is just an incredible, valuable experience.”
The trio went directly to the toy section to start shopping for Brian’s younger brother.
After everyone checked out, they headed over to the Westminster Senior and Community Center to wrap and distribute the gifts. Kinsey said this would likely prove to be the most difficult part of the day.
“I’m used to wrapping presents in the local comics with duct tape,” Kinsey said. “Hopefully this goes well.”