Shop with a Cop

Rotary Club of Americus sponsored Santa Claus for the annual Shop with a Cop event in which children in need, foster kids, and/or children who have a parent incarcerated are invited to join law enforcement officers for dinner and a shopping spree at Wal-Mart. Shopping cards are donated by Rotarians and other community leaders who "sponsor" a child each year. Children learn that cops are here to help and not harm. The most moving thing about this event is that most of the children shop for gifts for their families first.

The event is spearheaded by Rotarians Mark Scott and Eric Bryant. Rotary Club of Americus not only sponsors Santa, but many members donate to sponsor a child for a gift card used to "shop with a cop". This year there were 30 kids in our community that participated, with each receiving dinner, a gift card, and their own cop to shop with at our local Wal-Mart.