"Giving is not just about making a donation. It's about making a difference."
The Chouteau County Shop with the Sheriff Program began the Christmas of 2007. The program was started wanting to give back to the community with hopes to build the relationship with our youth and the Sheriff's Office. The non-profit program not only provides children with the opportunity to buy gifts for themselves, such as clothing and toys, and their families that they could not otherwise afford, but also helps break down barriers between the community and law enforcement with the goal of building better relationships between the two.
During 2007, the Sheriff's Office worked with Wal-Mart staff and obtained a small grant to start the Shop with the Sheriff program. The grant amount allowed every school in the county to participate. The child selections were made from the school staff and administrators. Selections were based on the child who they felt could use a pick me up or a bit of extra help during the Christmas season. The five students selected for the 1st Annual Shop with a Sheriff Christmas Program were able to purchase $100.00 in clothing and a special Christmas toy or gift at Wal-Mart. During these shopping sprees, many of the children chose to spend their monies not on themselves, but their siblings or a family member. It became very apparent that this program was positive and necessary.
After the initial shopping spree and excellent media coverage in 2007, members of the community began to donate to the program. With such over-whelming support from our county the added donations and a larger grant donated by Wal-Mart, the program grew. In 2008 the Sheriff's Office was able to take 19 children from around the county on a Christmas shopping spree. For the past 13 years the Sheriff's Office was able to continue the program.
Each child is paired with a deputy, 9-1-1 communications officer, or detention officer for a day of Christmas shopping! The day ends with lunch at Pizza Hut.
During 2007, the Sheriff's Office worked with Wal-Mart staff and obtained a small grant to start the Shop with the Sheriff program. The grant amount allowed every school in the county to participate. The child selections were made from the school staff and administrators. Selections were based on the child who they felt could use a pick me up or a bit of extra help during the Christmas season. The five students selected for the 1st Annual Shop with a Sheriff Christmas Program were able to purchase $100.00 in clothing and a special Christmas toy or gift at Wal-Mart. During these shopping sprees, many of the children chose to spend their monies not on themselves, but their siblings or a family member. It became very apparent that this program was positive and necessary.
After the initial shopping spree and excellent media coverage in 2007, members of the community began to donate to the program. With such over-whelming support from our county the added donations and a larger grant donated by Wal-Mart, the program grew. In 2008 the Sheriff's Office was able to take 19 children from around the county on a Christmas shopping spree. For the past 13 years the Sheriff's Office was able to continue the program.
Each child is paired with a deputy, 9-1-1 communications officer, or detention officer for a day of Christmas shopping! The day ends with lunch at Pizza Hut.