MANSFIELD, Ohio – Community members and law enforcement officers spent their morning shopping together on Sunday for the 19th annual Cops & Kids program.
Organized by the local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) William J. Taylor Lodge 32, the event hosted 124 kids at Wal-Mart on Possum Run Road to purchase clothing items for the upcoming school year. Lodge president Mike Bammann said Sunday’s shopping event was the culmination of a five-week phone solicitation fundraiser.
“Even in the worst of times, Richland County is very generous,” he said. “If it weren’t for the generosity of people in this county, we couldn’t do this.”
A longstanding partnership with the local Wal-Mart as well as collaboration with the Richland County Children’s Auxiliary and the Richland County Kinship program helped make Sunday’s event possible. Bammann explained the programs provided the names and families participating in the Cops & Kids shopping day.
“I’m a grandfather, and these are often grandparents raising their grandkids or great grandkids, and it’s really tough for them to get help like everybody else,” he said.
Bammann explained each child was given a voucher ranging from $100 to $150 to be used as cash and was given the freedom to shop and pick out their own clothing.
“It’s not just a giveaway, there’s something to be said to let a child shop,” said Bammann. “Little kids will talk about this being the first pair of shoes they’ve had that no one wore before them.”
Approximately 50 law enforcement officers, along with volunteers from the community, accompanied each family during their shopping trip. Bammann said volunteers came from various organizations including the Richland County Children’s Auxiliary, Richland County Children’s Services, and the Mansfield Police Department Explorers.
Aaron Clapp, a senior at Pioneer Career and Technology Center and a member of the MPD Explorers, said he was able to help his family pick out six shirts, a couple pairs of pants, socks and underwear.
“I like helping out people who can’t shop for themselves,” said Clapp. “Some people need help and this is good because they get a lot of clothes, and it gives a positive influence for the cops. You realize these guys are nice people.”
Clapp said this is his second year volunteering for Cops & Kids; Bammann said many of the law enforcement officers present on Sunday were repeat volunteers.
“When I look at the volunteer list over the years, they’re all returning,” said Bammann.
At the end of the day, Bammann said the important thing for local law enforcement officers is not only to provide clothing for needy children in the community, but also to have personal interactions with their community.
“There’s a lot of bad press about law enforcement these days. This gives us an opportunity to be with people and let people see us for who we really are,” he said. “This is who we really are. We care about the people we serve.”
“There’s a lot of bad press about law enforcement these days. This gives us an opportunity to be with people and let people see us for who we really are,” Mike Bammann said. “This is who we really are. We care about the people we serve.”
