The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
PARTNERS IN FINDS
Police set out with children on annual mission through Cops and Kids
A relationship that started with a flat tire grew to include Christmas shopping for a Lorain police officer and the families who live next to where he works.
The trip to the store was part of the annual Cops and Kids holiday gift program held Dec. 15 by the Fraternal Order of Police-Lorain Lodge No. 3.
Founded in 2010, this year the annual event gathered a crowd of 114 volunteers, including many Lorain police officers, law officers from other agencies and their supporters.
They accompanied 84 children from 38 families on a trip to buy presents destined for the spaces under the family Christmas trees.
“This is love and caring for one another, especially for children. This is great.” — Chevon Goodwin
“I think the best thing is just seeing the impact on the kids’ faces,” said Jesse Perkins, vice president of the Lorain FOP. He also is a canine officer on the police force.
“A lot of excitement and holiday spirit in the air,” said FOP President Kyle Gelenius. He also is an officer in the department’s traffic division.
The group gathered at Lorain High School for pizza brunch, cookies and pictures with Santa Claus.
From there, the youths and police boarded school buses for the ride to the Walmart Supercenter on Leavitt Road. They were accompanied by police cars with lights on and sirens blaring — for a holiday response, not an emergency.
Among the group were two girls whose mothers developed a friendship with Lorain police Community Resource Officer Jacob Morris, stationed at Westview Terrace housing development.
Avaya Goodwin, 2, and DeCarri Burrell, 5, traveled with Morris and Chevon Goodwin, Avaya’s mother. At the store they met Burrell’s mother, Tonaya Blunt, who spent a few minutes on triple duty as Walmart associate, mom and shopping assistant.
The families live next to the Lorain police office in the apartment complex and it was a flat tire that brought them together.
Blunt took the blame for the malfunction because she said she over-inflated her daughter’s bicycle tire, causing the inner tube to pop.
Morris noticed and, after his shift ended, took the tube to Walmart for a replacement. Returning to work, he brought the tube, a bicycle pump and some tools to show Burrell how to change a bicycle tire.
“And it’s been like a match made in heaven ever since,” Blunt said.
The girls were first-time participants and their mothers learned of the Cops and Kids program from Morris.
“Right on time, too,” said Blunt, a four-month worker at the store. “It couldn’t have come at a better time.”
At Walmart, the girls joined the whirlwind of youths and volunteers walking the beat in the toy aisles. They were permitted to select up to $175 worth of items. The police allow kids to choose the gifts including toys, as long as they have adequate winter clothes.
“At the end, it’s just like, you kind of shake your head and you’re like, wow,” Morris said.
The money comes from officer donations, fundraisers and contributions from community supporters. A few Walmart shoppers walked up to give to the program.
Avaya Goodwin’s cart included a hat and glove set, socks and underclothes. She also took home a baby doll, toy stroller and tricycle.
“You have a lot of unpacking to do, you and DeCarri both,” Morris said.
Burrell found amusements including a ukulele, a threepound bucket of slime and, appropriately, a bicycle horn. Her mother advised the toy purchases and allowed Barbie, but not Ken, to join Burrell’s toy collection.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for a male doll yet,” Blunt said with a laugh.
The browsing lasted about an hour to 90 minutes, with the groups selecting their items, checking out and socializing while waiting for the buses back to the high school.
“Thank you so much,” Blunt said.
“I’m so glad, I’m so glad,” Morris said. “I’m very glad that you were able to participate.”
“I could cry right now, I really could,” Chevon Goodwin said afterward. “This is love and caring for one another, especially for children. This is great.
“I don’t know what to say, except thank you so much,” she said. “Thank you. I love it.”