The Pocatello Police Department is kicking off the Christmas festivities with a fundraiser this weekend.
Cops and Kids is a fundraiser seeking to raise money for local children who are in need and don’t have funds to celebrate Christmas with their families. Through donations from the community, it provides children with breakfast with local officers, pictures with Santa Claus and a shopping trip to buy Christmas presents for the children’s families.
Sergeant Jodi Weaver is with the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office and serves as the Fraternal Order of Police president. In an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, she says the event has multiple purposes.
“We want to provide financially, and we’re using community support to do that,” Weaver said. “We want to build these relationships with these kids and build these memories with law enforcement that are positive and exciting and fun.”
Money from the fundraiser is often used to purchase things like coats, toys, shoes, socks and other items that families stand in need of.
The recipients of the fundraiser are children ages 6-10, and funds will be distributed to 85 children this year. Weaver says the police department spends around $15,000 in total.
Weaver tells BYU-Idaho the impact of the fundraiser goes well beyond just this year.
“When we’re collecting funds and we have our Santa hats, we have people come up and say, ‘I did this 30 years ago and this was the best Christmas I ever had,’” Weave said. “These are lifetime memories for these kids.”
Funds don’t just affect the children; they affect their families too.
“When these kids can buy for their families and pick out something specific for their mom that they might not have gotten to do, to see the joy on their face is fantastic,” Weaver said.
Weaver gives credit to the community for making the fundraiser possible year in and year out.
“The community really has, not just financially supported us, but they support us in so many ways to make this possible,” Weaver said. “There are many, many hands in this.”
Speaking of community, Texas Roadhouse in Pocatello is partnering with the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office to donate 10% of each check on Wednesday, Nov. 5, to the Cops and Kids fundraiser.
Donations for the fundraiser can also be made Saturday, Nov. 8 from 12-6 p.m. at the Walmart in Chubbuck. For more information, click here.