Law enforcement reinvent event as Shop with the Blue

Auglaize County law enforcement officials are reorganizing Shop with a Cop into Shop with the Blue — and they are seeking community donations to make the event happen during the season of giving.

During the Shop with the Blue Program, law enforcement officers and personnel shop with children of families in need, spending 75 percent of funding allotment on clothing and 25 percent on toys the child chooses.

Auglaize County Sheriff Mike Vorhees explained the program used to be called shop with a cop through the Auglaize County Fraternal order of Police. But, the local FOP voted to disband last fall due to low membership. The disbandment process had been ongoing.

The Auglaize FOP Lodge 76 started in the 1990s and Vorhees said it was popular for several years.

“They just couldn’t get interest to keep it going to hold office,” Vorhees said.

A direct result of that disbanding — the end of Shop With a Cop seemed near.

“When I took office I knew it was going to happen,” Vorhees said. “I was really upset that we were going to lose this Shop With a Cop program because it was run by the FOP.”

Vorhees said he contacted past FOP chairs, and talked with local police chiefs and found they will still have local law enforcement assisting with the program along with the St. Marys Community Foundation.

Organizers learned of a trademark for the Shop with a Cop program and renamed it Shop with the Blue.

Vorhees said it was important they get a head start on collecting donations as they couldn’t draw from FOP funds to start up as they had in the past. They want to be

able to mail information to people and plan to talk to service clubs about that effort.

“It is going to cost about $1,000 to get the mailers out,” Vorhees said.

But the growing pains are woth it.

“It’s always very fun to get kids who are less fortunate at Christmas time, to take them shopping,” Vorhees said.

He usually shops with his wife. Vorhees likes seeing the childrens’r eyes light up and takes comfort in knowing that they will have some clothing for the winter and some toys to have on Christmas Day.

Donations can be made online at THESCMF. org. Checks can be made payable to Shop with the Blue and be mailed to the St. Marys Community Foundation at 206 E. Spring Street, St. Marys, Ohio, 45885.