Stacy Hartman, wife of Greenfield Police Chief Brian Hartman, helps Oliver Stone, 2, with shoes during last year’s Cops-4-Kids shopping spree at Walmart in Greenfield. Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — ’Tis the season to start thinking about making sure county families in need of assistance at Christmas have a happy holiday. Officials with city, town and county law enforcement agencies are already making plans to help numerous families who qualify through their annual holiday shopping programs.
Officials with the Greenfield Police Department are currently accepting applications once again for their annual Cops-4-Kids shopping event, which is scheduled for Dec. 4 at the Greenfield Walmart. The Cops-4-Kids event has been offered by officials from the GPD for more than 10 years and has been made possible by donations from the community.
Requirements to be selected for the GPD program include a child or children who have not been selected in previous years; the household is not receiving Christmas help this year from another agency; the child or children must be between the ages of 2 and 18 years old and the family must live in the city limits of Greenfield.
Officials with the GPD say their Cops-4-Kids program is committed to help make the holidays brighter for underprivileged children in the city of Greenfield. The officers and volunteers are committed to assist children in need during this special season and are similarly committed to have families who are most suitable to participate in their Cops-4-Kids program.
Each year, officers from the GPD volunteer to pick up a child or children from a home at 7 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 4 in a police car and drive to McDonald’s for a hot breakfast. After breakfast, the child or children will go to Walmart for a fun morning of Christmas shopping with the officer. Parents or guardians will be permitted at Walmart while the child or children are shopping.
Applications for the GPD are due Friday Nov. 18 and are now available at the GPD during normal business hours. Anyone with more questions about the program is asked to please call the GPD Administration office at (317) 477-4410.
The GPD is just one of several first responder departments throughout the county who work with families in need during the holidays, including the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, which hosts a Shop-with-a-Deputy event every Christmas.
The Sheriff’s shopping event is slated for Dec. 3 at Walmart. Penney Weiler from the Sheriff’s Department said they’ve had fewer donors this year, but thanks to great giving last year they are still able to provide for at least the 30 to 40 kids.
“That is always our goal,” Weiler said.
The local Rotary club has been a great partner and consistently donate each year to Shop-with-a-Deputy from their bell ringing drive, Weiler said. Still, Sheriff’s officials are currently looking for more donations. Weiler did however mention Terry Miller with Hancock County Christmas Connection does a great job in making sure agencies share opportunities and help each other out.
Applications are currently available by calling the non-emergency Sheriff’s number, 317-477-1147. Weiler noted they’re hoping to get the applications online within the next few days and will also have the information available on Facebook. Sheriff’s applications are due Wednesday, Nov. 23.
The McCordsville Police Department is once again partnering with other agencies, including the Vernon Township and Buck Creek Township fire departments, to brighten children’s Christmas this year.
Their “Holidays with Heroes” shopping event is at Meijer on Dec. 3 with Daniels Vineyard providing a “Breakfast with Santa Clause” after for the families shop.
They will start shopping at 8 a.m. and the breakfast will be at 9 a.m. Applications can be picked up at the McCordsville Police Department, said MPD Detective Dan Trejo. Applications are due Friday, Nov. 11.
Families who would like to participate can stop by the MPD during normal business hours to pick up an application. Applications will also been given to the surrounding churches and schools in the area.
