Cops spread Christmas cheer

While law enforcement officers work hard to patrol the streets, they're also working hard to make Christmas wishes come true. The annual Cops & Kids Go Shopping - formerly known as Shop with a Cop - event, hosted Sunday morning at the Tiffin Avenue Meijer, paired roughly 125 children to shop Christmas wish lists with local law enforcement officers. The event was exclusively for income-challenged or at-risk youth chosen through referrals made by teachers and school counselors who thought could benefit from it the most. "It's nice for the community. It makes Christmas better for all the kids." Findlay police Chief James Mathias said. "It's very nice to see." Mathias and his wife Tina, along with the officers from Findlay and other agencies, helped to ensure each child's Christmas was made special. Children were given $200 to spend on what they felt was needed. Officers circulated the clothing and toy aisles at the Tiffin Avenue Meijer, with lists containing clothing, shoes, toys and other needs. Some children even shopped for siblings unable to make the event. The event is put on by the Fort Findlay FOP Lodge #20 Foundation, which aims to instill trust and community support between youth and law enforcement. This year's fundraising theme, "Be a Cops & Kids Champion," emphasized a dedication to nurturing positive relationships between law enforcement and the younger generation. "We firmly believe in the power of positive experiences," the foundation's development director Teresa White said. "It isn't just about shopping; it's about forging connections, building trust, and creating enduring memories that can profoundly impact a child's future." Along with shopping, the foundation puts on other Cops & Kids events throughout the year like Cops & Kids Get Creative, Cops & Kids Get Involved, Cops & Kids Go to College and Cops & Kids Go Back to School. So far, the foundation has raised over $62,000, about half of their goal, for Cops & Kids. Donations stay in Hancock County and can be made on the lodge's website; fortfindlayfop20.org