Letters: Shopping day shows community cares

To the Editor,

We were so thankful to be a part of the fourth annual Shop with a Cop event Saturday Dec. 8 at Walmart. During the event, 20 youths from the Red Wing community, chosen by the Officer Travis Bray, Kids Count Staff and Red Wing School District social workers, were able to purchase Christmas gifts for each of their families. Walmart staff prepared a meal for the kids to eat before shopping and also prepared large food bags, which included a turkey and trimmings for a Christmas meal.

Twenty local police officers from the Fraternal Order of Police and Benevolent Association and their families helped children shop and choose presents, keeping track of the total amount spent. It was great to see the children laughing and interacting with the officers, creating positive relationships.

The Burnside and Sunnyside School social workers, Kids Count staff and several members of the Noontime Kiwanis wrapped and tagged all of the presents. A mother and her two daughters, who were shopping at Walmart, dropped what they were doing and joined in as volunteers to wrap presents.

After they shopped, the officers took the kids to take a picture with Santa and tour city of Red Wing emergency vehicles. The kids were smiling from ear to ear.

It is great to live in a community where youth are valued by police officers and so many groups care about the kids in our community and that they can work together to create such a positive event.

Katie Ramstad

Adam Crain

Red Wing

Katie Ramstad is the Y Pals/Y Achiever's coordinator. Adam Crain is an officer with the Red Wing Police Department.

Tags: opinion, letters