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Joy of Medina County Magazine | December 2021
COMMUNITY: GEMS
Shop With a Cop Fulfills Wishes by Kent Von Der Vellen Every December for the last seven years, children in Medina County have had the opportunity to Shop with A Cop for Christmas. Brett Robertson, Medina County Law Enforcement Association president, said they receive between 110 to 150 recommendations from local school systems for children to participate each year. There is no application or specific requirements to participate, and it is left up to the schools to recommend students who could benefit. Occasionally, another source will make a referral, as well. Elementary and middle school students are recommended for the program, and it is common for older and younger siblings to be included. The program is meant to help those in need celebrate Christmas and help children become comfortable talking to and being around police officers. MCLEA was created as a 501C3 in 2016 to help facilitate the Shop with a Cop program. Darren Stout, president of the Medina County Fraternal Order of Police #204, said they partner with MCLEA to raise funds and organize the Shop with a Cop program. Although they hold fundraising events during the year, the majority of funds come from individuals, businesses and organizations in Medina County. On the day of the event, there will be roughly 150 officers volunteering their time and another 150 volunteers from around the community helping make the day a success. The officers come from 13 law enforcement agencies that are part of FOP #204. Each law enforcement agency helps to make the day a success by allowing the use of their vehicles by the officers volunteering their time. Shop with a Cop is modeled after a similar program the Wadsworth Fraternal Order of the Police has held for several Christmas seasons. Medina County FOP members would volunteer at the Wadsworth program and decided they needed to bring it to other communities. The day starts early with each child arriving at their designated law enforcement headquarters, where they will meet their personal officer of the day. After checking in, they ride with their officer to Blue Herron to enjoy a continental breakfast at 9 a.m. After breakfast, they take part in a parade of squad cars, firetrucks and other emergency vehicles which delivers them to Walmart to shop. Stout said it is amazing the level of community support they receive along the parade route as cars pull over and people come out of their homes and stores to wave as they drive by. This year, they are hoping to convince Santa to lead the parade in a Cleveland Clinic helicopter. Walmart brings in extra employees to help the children and
Medina County Law Enforcement Association, LLC DBA: MCLEA 3593 Medina Road, Suite 283 Medina, Ohio 44256 (330)714-7513 Web address: Date of formation: 08/01/2016 Organization type: 501(c)(3) Description of Organization’s Purpose: Raising funds for Shop With a Cop and support of community programs Is the organization's registration status current? Yes The financial information below is from the organization’s most recent filing within the on-line system. If the items below are blank, the organization has not yet filed information on-line or they may be exempt from filing an annual report. Reporting Year: 2019 Reporting Start Date: 1/1/2019 Reporting End Date: 12/31/2019 Total Revenue: Total Expenses: Total Program Expenses: Percent of Total Expenses: Total Assets:
their officers find the items on their lists. The kids take the opportunity to get items they want, but Robertson and Stout said the kids are surprising in how thoughtful they can be by buying toys for siblings, something for their parents, and practical items, like a coat and clothes. Each child is given $100 to spend, and it is not uncommon for an officer to help with few extra bucks when the price goes over a bit. One year, a child purchased a basketball goal, and the officers arranged for it to be delivered to the child’s home and set up. After the children finish shopping, they return to Blue Herron for lunch and a chance to play until their parents pick them up. This year’s Shop with a Cop will be Saturday, December 4. The lights-and-sirens parade that transports the children on their shopping trip is expected to travel through Medina Public Square sometime between 9:15 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. The public is invited to line the parade route to cheer for the kids and officers. For more information, contact a local law enforcement agency or visit FOP #204 at https://bit.ly/3wnjPGt . Kent Von Der Vellen is a 20-year Medina resident. He has been a volunteer for various youth sports teams, is a member of the Medina Lions Club, and, with his wife, Kim, founded the Jakob F. Von Der Vellen Memorial Foundation. Contact Von Der Vellen by e-mailing Gems@BlakeHousePublishing.com or by calling 330-421-0863. Learn what other area nonprofits need by visiting Giving Hearts under the Help tab at https://www.joyofmedinacountymagazine.com/ .
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