It was an early Christmas for 50 keiki in West Hawai‘i as they participated in the annual Shop With a Cop event in Kona last Saturday. The event, which has been a local tradition for more than 30 years, is a collaboration between the Hawai‘i Police Department, Catholic Charities, and this year, Kona Walmart. The initiative offers underprivileged youth a chance to connect with law enforcement through a shared holiday shopping experience, as reported by the Hawai‘i Police Department.
Hosting the event in Kona Walmart, originally at Kmart before it closed, the Shop With a Cop provides a $100 gift card to kids who were pre-selected by Catholic Charities and then paired with a member of law enforcement to help pick out gifts. The event this year saw over 30 officers participating from various agencies, including the Hawai‘i State Sheriff’s Department and the Hawai‘i Air National Guard, as they helped the keiki fill their carts with presents.
Following the shopping spree, the children had the opportunity to have their presents wrapped by volunteers. Wrapping up the morning, the keiki were then treated to a McDonald’s Happy Meal breakfast and a visit with Santa. "It’s really something special when you see these kids interact with the officers as they pick out that special gift for themselves or their family members," said Barbara Kossow of Kids Matter–Friends of the Justice Center of West Hawai‘i, according to the Hawai‘i Police Department. Kids Matter–Friends of the Justice Center of West Hawai‘i is one of the groups that supports the funding of the event.
The Shop With a Cop event is not just about gifts, according to Erin Basque of Catholic Charities. It aims to build bridges between youth and law enforcement in the community. Supporting this sentiment, Franz Weber, also with Kids Matter, said, "It’s mind-blowing how the officers are so personally engaged. They see the need and want to help," as per a report by the Hawai‘i Police Department.
