Shop with a Cop helps students
Bella Vista and Gravette police officers took 12 Cooper Elementary students and three Gravette students shopping last Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Cooper Elementary counselor James “Buddy” Herndon said he was impressed with how hard the officers worked to help these kids.
“It was amazing, you know?” he said. “The kids had a great time.
“It was amazing how hard some of the kids shopped for their family.”
Police took the kids shopping at the Wal-Mart in Jane, Mo., before bringing them back to the police station for a pizza lunch and a tour.
“It’s amazing how much some of those kids could put away,” Herndon said.
The kids also seemed to get a real kick out of looking over a squad car, he added.
Sgt. Bryan Bunch, who heads up the program, said he was very pleased with this year’s Shop with a Cop.
“It went good, everything went without a hitch and we had a great time with the kids,” he said.
Each kid was given $200 to spend during the shopping trip and a bicycle donated by McLarty Daniel in
Bentonville.
The kids are often from families that could use a little help for the holidays, he said, and they all seemed very grateful.
Herndon said he really appreciates the community supporting the program with donations to the Fraternal Order of Police as well as officers and officials who participate and help keep the program going.
“Just the positive interaction and stuff they had with the officers… was really nice,” he said.