JAMES ANDERSON / Scroll
Santa Claus and members of the Rexburg Police Department team up to brighten this child’s Christmas as part of the Shop with a Cop program Saturday at Kmart. BOTTOM: A young participant in Saturday’s event peruses a display of watches while Deputy Jared Willmore looks on.

The community of Rexburg has come together to help brighten the holiday season for those who are less fortunate. People old and young have donated their time, talents, money, and food to spread the holiday joy.

A ride in a cop car is probably not the way some would like to spend their holiday, but for a few children, riding in a cop car made their holiday.

The Rexburg Police Department and other volunteers put on the annual Shop with a Cop program on December 9. Children who would otherwise not receive gifts for Christmas spent the day with a cop, eating at McDonalds and shopping at Kmart to buy gifts for their families.

Police officers drove the children down Main Street with their sirens blazing to McDonald’s. Their breakfast was provided and paid for by the owners of the Rexburg’s McDonald’s restaurant — Joan and Trent Cichos.

“It gives us an opportunity to help spread the Christmas cheer,” Joan Cichos said. The children then spent the morning shopping for themselves and their families.

BYU-Idaho students have come together in a similar way to help give a Christmas to those that cannot provide one for their families.

One communication class is sponsoring Christmas for two families. The students have been selling cookie dough, asking for donations from companies, and singing at Broulim’s to raise money to provide a family in need a Christmas full of delicious food and gifts.

“I love helping out and spreading the Christmas cheer,” said Lacy Reese, a freshman from Rexburg. “We can help bring a Christmas to people, we can help them have a day to celebrate Christ’s birth and His sacrifice. It is an amazing feeling.”

The Goodfellows in Rexburg is another charitable organization that helps provide Christmas to those that cannot provide for one. They work in conjunction with The Boy Scouts of America.
The Scouts help to collect food goods, and The Goodfellows package and distribute the food to families in need. They call all the churches in the county and ask how many people would benefit from a Christmas care package. The packages are made from donated goods and money. Any cash donations are used to buy presents for households with children up to 18 years old.

On Dec. 9, The Goodfellows, along with Rexburg’s Lions Club, hosted their charitable event Gobble for Goodfellows. People donated money or bought a turkey or chicken to be given to the families. On Dec. 16, the packages will be given to churches that distribute them to the families.

“The whole process is very confidential. You don’t ever know who you are making the packages for, but the food collected in the county stays in the county,” said Kelley Erickson, The Goodfellows chairperson. “You never know who gets them. It could be your neighbor or your friend, but just knowing that you helped someone have a better Christmas is the greatest gift you could ask for.”

Erickson said college students can help spread cheer by donating. While many students are getting ready to go home for the semester, they can go through their food, and if there is any extra Rice-a-Roni, Top Ramen, or canned goods — donate it.

“If you are not in a position to go out and buy an extra turkey, go buy a can of food, or if you have some extra cash just drop it in a box,” Erickson said.

The Goodfellows will be accepting donations on Dec. 14 from 3:30-5 p.m. at the old Piece Goods store on University Boulevard or at any public school within Rexburg.