11th annual Shop with a Cop event held at Woodland WalMart

Assisted by area law enforcement officials, a total of 136 area children received a $100 (pre taxed) gift card top shop with Saturday

Officials from seven area law enforcement agencies and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife played host to 136 children in the 11th annual Shop with a Cop event held Saturday (Dec. 11) at the Woodland Walmart.

“This year, we’re going to have 136 kids,’’ Sgt. James Keller of the Woodland Police Department commented to Clark County Today just prior to the start of the event. “Each kid gets a $100 gift card, and they go out to shop. All of it is pre taxed. We have about $20,000 that was donated this year from local businesses including Walmart, Walt’s Meats, and without the community members involved, we cannot do this event. So, it’s a very good partnership with the community as well as with WalMart.’’

The law enforcement agencies involved, in addition to the Woodland Police Department, include the Ridgefield Police Department, Kalama Police Department, Cowlitz Tribal Police, Vancouver Police Department, Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol and Washington Department of Corrections.

Many members of the community also volunteered at the event.

“We’re just really excited to be able to partner with the local agencies with our Shop with a Cop event,’’ said Barry Webb, manager of the Woodland WalMart. “This is our 11th year partnering with our local police organizations within Cowlitz and Clark County. It’s been really exciting to partner with them in preparation for the event and partner with some of the other local agencies and the schools nearby and help with some of the volunteerism and be able to give back to the community.’’