Doing Good: Shop With a Cop Program
By:
Updated: December 8, 2009
For most kids, Christmas is the most anticipated day of the year - but there is one day 7-year-old Christian Rodriguez looks forward to even more.
"In summertime he will start counting down, 'mom how many more months is it until shop with a cop?'" said Christian's mom, Sandra Rodriguez.
Since the early 90's, Rogers police officers have taken children in need shopping for their own Christmas presents as part of the Shop With a Cop program. While some kids may forget what they got before you can toss the wrapping paper, Christian remembers last year's gifts like it was yesterday.
"I got a robo-reptile and a Spiderman bike," he said.
His mom remembers the relief she felt knowing someone was reaching out a hand to help.
"I didn't know where Christmas was going to come from for my son," she said, crying. "It was a blessing."
"If you don't have knots in your stomach when you are done, than you are not human," said Sergeant Kelley Cradduck. He volunteers his time - and he and his fellow officers even donate their own money to help with the program. They spend at least $100 on each child, getting them toys, clothes or shoes.
"They do it from their hearts because they love the children," Sandra said. "And they do not want the children to do without."
"It goes much deeper than that," Sgt. Cradduck said. "You are talking about building relationships. I still to this day have a relationship with a child from Shop With a Cop.
Sgt Cradduck said that the officers enjoy the experience as much as the kids. The program is also about showing kids who may have a bad view of police or authority who the good guys really are.
"That experience of breaking barriers, increasing communication, letting people see that we are human too, we have families too and we care about these things too - that is the much deeper affect of this," he said.
"We do apparciate what they do for my son, not just my son, but for me, and for all the families that have been granted the opportunity and the wish that their children will have a Christmas," Rodriguez said. "It's a joy, and it's a privilege - and honor.
Now not only can Christian and his mother look forward to Christmas - they now have two days a year to look forward to - and be thankful for.
Officers raise money all year for Shop With a Cop, and the Rogers Optimist Club makes large donations to the program.
For more information on the program go to: http://www.rogersarkansas.com/police/shopwithacop.asp
"In summertime he will start counting down, 'mom how many more months is it until shop with a cop?'" said Christian's mom, Sandra Rodriguez.
Since the early 90's, Rogers police officers have taken children in need shopping for their own Christmas presents as part of the Shop With a Cop program. While some kids may forget what they got before you can toss the wrapping paper, Christian remembers last year's gifts like it was yesterday.
"I got a robo-reptile and a Spiderman bike," he said.
His mom remembers the relief she felt knowing someone was reaching out a hand to help.
"I didn't know where Christmas was going to come from for my son," she said, crying. "It was a blessing."
"If you don't have knots in your stomach when you are done, than you are not human," said Sergeant Kelley Cradduck. He volunteers his time - and he and his fellow officers even donate their own money to help with the program. They spend at least $100 on each child, getting them toys, clothes or shoes.
"They do it from their hearts because they love the children," Sandra said. "And they do not want the children to do without."
"It goes much deeper than that," Sgt. Cradduck said. "You are talking about building relationships. I still to this day have a relationship with a child from Shop With a Cop.
Sgt Cradduck said that the officers enjoy the experience as much as the kids. The program is also about showing kids who may have a bad view of police or authority who the good guys really are.
"That experience of breaking barriers, increasing communication, letting people see that we are human too, we have families too and we care about these things too - that is the much deeper affect of this," he said.
"We do apparciate what they do for my son, not just my son, but for me, and for all the families that have been granted the opportunity and the wish that their children will have a Christmas," Rodriguez said. "It's a joy, and it's a privilege - and honor.
Now not only can Christian and his mother look forward to Christmas - they now have two days a year to look forward to - and be thankful for.
Officers raise money all year for Shop With a Cop, and the Rogers Optimist Club makes large donations to the program.
For more information on the program go to: http://www.rogersarkansas.com/police/shopwithacop.asp
