By Karen Hall

Editor

A small army of volunteers waited anxiously at Walmart Saturday morning for two school buses to arrive with about 160 children selected for Cops for Kids this year.

The volunteers were drawn from service clubs, churches, police families, youth groups, and teachers.

"This is the payoff for all the fundraisers," said Capt. Rebekah Mitchell. "The more children we can include, the more joy we can spread."

She reminded volunteers not to let the children buy a coat, because they were each getting a coat as a separate gift, along with a beanbag chair from Comfort Research, a food box, and a Rotary goody bag. Weapons and electronics were not allowed, but other than that, each child had $100 to spend. Mitchell recommended "clothes first, toys second."

Thanks to fundraising efforts throughout the year, this was the largest number of children ever for Cops for Kids. There was even a shortage of volunteers, with some bringing a child to the checkout counters and immediately starting shopping with another.

"You're a really cool dude," said one volunteer to her charge as they said goodbye. "Come give me a hug."

"Have a wonderful Christmas, OK?" said another volunteer as she hugged a little shopper.

Each child had a wristband with their name, color-coded to the elementary school they attend. Each school had a designated check-out lane, and each check-out lane had sheets of big, pre-printed name labels. The name label was stuck to a big black garbage bag as each child got to the register, so all their gifts were stashed in one bag. More volunteers put the bags in a waiting van outside the store for transportation back to the Dream Center, where the children had breakfast before the shopping trip, and would have lunch afterwards, before being released back to their families, laden with Christmas cheer.

Police Chief Chuck Forbis worked alongside members of his department but said, "This is all Rebekah's -- I just do what I'm told."