With Christmas less than a month away, members of the Poplar Bluff Fraternal Order of Police No. 48 are raising funds to help make the holiday brighter for less fortunate children.
For nearly 30 years, the FOP has hosted an annual program, now called Shop With a Hero.
In 2018, 110 children were invited, with 96 children participating in the shopping event at the Walmart Supercenter.
As in years’ past, the children will be chosen from Poplar Bluff’s four elementary schools, as well as its kindergarten center; Twin Rivers’ elementary schools at Fisk and Qulin; and Neelyville’s elementary schools at Neelyville and Hillview. The names will be provided by the counselors at each school.
The children chosen for this year’s event, each will be given $100 to spend as they shop with a local first responder on Dec. 21 at Walmart.
“Our goal has always been (to raise) $10,000, that’s a good year. Some years have been more than that,” said Poplar Bluff Police Sgt. Shonna Grobe, the FOP’s secretary/treasurer.
When funds reach in excess of $10,000, “we are able to take a few more kids or spend more” on each one, Grobe said. “Ideally, it’s $10,000, so we can spend $100 on 100 kids.”
At this point, Grobe said, the FOP has raised about $4,000, including its share of the proceeds from April’s Badge of Honor Benefit Run. There also have been a few early donations, she said.
“In order to make this program successful, it takes the generosity of the community and civic organizations to make it possible,” Grobe explained.
For the first responders, “anytime we can give back to the children in the community, it makes everyone feel good,” Grobe said. “That day is always a special day for all the officers.”
Grobe described it as a day “we get to put aside working crimes and devastating events to have fun with the children.”
The shopping, she said, allows the first responders to connect with the children.
“When you get a call, even dealing with kids on a traffic stop/traffic crash, they are having something major going on in their lives,” Grobe explained. “Their view of the police department/law enforcement might be negative (as a result).
“(The program) shows them you have a heart and are trying to help as much as possible.”
Participating in the event each year are members of the Poplar Bluff Police Department, Butler County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center police, Poplar Bluff Fire Department, Butler County EMS, Medic One, Air Evac Lifeteam, Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Army National Guard.
Donations may be made by mailing them or dropping them off at the police department, 1111 Poplar St. Checks should be made payable to the Poplar Bluff Fraternal Order of Police.