Every year local law enforcement help to make Christmas for Geary County children a little bit brighter.

“Shop with a Cop” has been a longstanding tradition for over 10 years in Junction City. School district officials, Department of Children and Families, and other local agencies identify elementary school-aged children in need who then get $100 to “shop with a cop.”

Lieutenant Trish Giordan said it’s a rewarding experience. “A lot of [them] don’t even shop for themselves, they’ll buy for their brothers and sisters or mom and dad, a couple of kids have wanted to buy us gifts just because we were with them, it’s very sweet.”

Over 60 children will shop for Christmas goodies this Saturday. The children will have breakfast at the Second Missionary Baptist Church in Junction City – served and prepared by church volunteers, and then will travel by bus to Walmart in Junction City for their shopping experience.

“This is a great program, not only to help the kids get stuff that they probably wouldn’t get, but also it’s a positive experience with police officers that some of them have never had that experience before…it’s so rewarding to see the kids when they come and start shopping” said Giordano.

“Shop with a Cop” is Saturday, December 10th. Several local law enforcement agencies participate including the Junction City Police Department, the Geary County Sheriff’s Department, and the Grandview Plaza Police Department.