The Arizona State University and Tempe police departments will join forces with ASU Fraternity and Sorority Life on Saturday, Dec. 12, to help local children in need with their holiday shopping.
Kids + Cops Holiday Shop is a unique holiday experience that aims to create positive relationships between law-enforcement officials and children. Police officers volunteer their time and pair up with a child from the ASU and Tempe communities for a catered breakfast and a shopping trip to a Tempe Walmart. Each child, ages 7–16, receives a $150 gift card to spend on his or her family.
ASU Fraternity & Sorority Life, the Criminal Justice Honor Society, the Tempe Police Foundation and the Walmart Foundation contributed funds for the event. ASU Fraternity & Sorority Life also assembled complimentary toiletry kits for children to take home.
“The Interfraternity Council and its members are embedded in the Tempe community, and we are excited to partner with the ASU and Tempe Police Departments to make local children’s wishes come true this holiday season,” said Michael “Scotty” Nickerson, vice president of finance for the Interfraternity Council, the governing body for ASU fraternities.
The ASU and Tempe Police Departments are partnering with ASU Fraternity and Sorority Life for the Kids + Cops Holiday Shop event benefiting children in need. The Dec. 12 event will pair law-enforcement personnel with local children for a shopping trip to a Tempe Walmart; the group from last year is shown here.
On the day of the event, the children and their parent or guardian will be treated to breakfast provided by Special Moments Catering and Events. Attendees can mingle with Santa, Sparky and K-9 officer Disney, the ASU Police explosives-detection canine. Tempe Police S.W.A.T. vehicles also will be on-site for children to explore.
A special police procession then escorts the children to a Walmart, where the shopping begins.
ASU Police also is holding its annual holiday food and toy drive. Officers are collecting non-perishable, holiday food items and new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes across ASU campuses through Dec. 18. Police officers will wrap the toys and deliver the food to local families in need before Dec. 25.
“Programs such as these allow ASU Police to create positive, impactful relationships with members of our neighboring communities, especially children, by letting them know we’re here for them,” said ASU Chief of Police Michael Thompson. “One of the most rewarding aspects of this job is being able to give back to the communities we serve.”
Visit the ASU Police holiday drive webpage for more details about the food and toy drive.
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