It’s not everyday kids get to hang out with local law enforcement, while also shopping for Christmas presents for their families. But that is exactly what 14 kids got to do Saturday during Greene County’s Shop with a Cop.

Greene County Sheriff’s office, Jefferson Police Department, Iowa State Patrol and a few Jefferson Firefighters teamed up to take 14 kids out to shop for their families at several locations in Jefferson. Each child received $150 to spend at the following businesses: Bomgaard’s, Shopko Hometown, Dollar General and Don’s Ace Hardware. For seven-year-old David Joy, he talks about his favorite part with Shop with a Cop. “The best part about today was getting to get gifts for the family.” Eleven-year-old Kody Hickman echoes Joy’s comments. “Getting toys for my grandma, grandpa, my dad, and cousins, and aunts, and uncles.”

Greene County Chief Deputy Nathaniel Chapman describes how he feels about participating in Shop with a Cop. “The ones that don’t quite have the ability to go out to spend money on their family, and just to be able to be with them and just lend a hand with each of them. Then also to bring them back and just share the joy that we get to have.”

Greene County Peace Officers Association President Patrick Gerhardt says Shop with a Cop makes a positive impact on the kids that get to participate.

“It’s very, very self-satisfying for us. You got out, maybe you’re on school patrol and stuff, and you always hear kids saying, ‘Hi cop,’ you don’t really know them. But now we can put names with faces there. So it’s very self-gratifying for us.”

With so many donations made to Shop with a Cop, this year, each kid also received a meal for their families from Fareway and Hy-Vee in Jefferson.