Shop with a Cop

The Wellsville K-Mart hosted its 15th Annual 'Shop with a Cop' on Saturday December 13th. Bolivar's Chief of Police and long-time Lion, Rick Whitney has participated in this tradition of helping underprivileged youngsters shop for Christmas gifts for more than 10 years.Shop with a Cop This annual event is an opportunity for these youngsters to have a morning of Christmas shopping they might not otherwise experience. All candidates for the program are picked by the Allegany County Dept. of Social Services. (Last year 110 children participated and again this year more than 100 were registered.) Each child is given breakfast with Santa, a wrapped gift for themselves and $20.00 to shop for gifts for their family. The bonus is that volunteers from various police agencies will be on hand, in uniform, to serve as guides and helpers for the tiny shoppers. This shopping trip takes on a completely different character. The children, some afraid of the police, have a chance to have breakfast with their very own cop and have that officer help them shop. Once the gifts are chosen and paid for, volunteers from other community agencies help the children and officers wrap the presents.

Shop with a Cop Shop with a Cop

Exectutive Director of the Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce and former K-Mart manager Steve Havey indicated that this year's participants included about 15 officers. Members of law enforcement from the Wellsville, Bolivar, Andover and Alfred Police Departments, Allegany County Sheriff's Dept., NY State Police and Alfred SUNY Police were represented. The Bolivar Lions Club has helped support this program for several years through an annual donation. (Photos by F. Shaner)