Springdale Kids Shop On Cops’ Tab

Chad Wilson, school resourse officer with the Springdale Police department, left, and Shelly Parker, secretery with the department, unload items to ring up Friday, Dec. 13, 2013 during the department's shop with a cop program at the Walmart super center in Springdale. The event will serve approximately 140 children from elementary age to high school. The children at Walmart were taken around the store to buy clothes and toys with an officer from the Springdale Police Department. The department raised money throughout the year for the program through donations and events.

Chad Wilson, school resourse officer with the Springdale Police department, left, and Shelly Parker, secretery with the department, unload items to ring up Friday, Dec. 13, 2013 during the department's shop with a cop program at the Walmart super center in Springdale. The event will serve approximately 140 children from elementary age to high school. The children at Walmart were taken around the store to buy clothes and toys with an officer from the Springdale Police Department. The department raised money throughout the year for the program through donations and events.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

SPRINGDALE — The shopping cart in the Walmart checkout overflowed with gifts for Jaquita and her brothers Jefferson and Javarous.

Regina Caldwell, their mother, didn’t have to pay the bill. The Springdale Police Department bought presents, including clothing and toys, for 112 children Friday morning, said Lt. Derek Hudson, the department’s public information officer. Shopping for another 15 children will take place on another day.

The department spent $200 per child, up from $125 last year, in its Shop with a Cop program, Hudson said.

Caldwell said the program will make a big difference for her family of nine children. Jaquita, 12, picked out a talking toy dog and some skinny jeans, she said. Jefferson, 11, chose a remote-control car, while his brother Javarous, 7, had a remote-control helicopter. Regina is a student at J.O. Kelley Middle School and her brothers are at Harp Elementary School.

Most of the money was reserved for necessities, such as jackets and other clothing, and $40 could be spent on toys, Hudson said.

That last pick was the toughest, said Sgt. Robert Sanchez, who was helping two other young shoppers. A 10-year-old girl was making the tough decision between two dolls. Her 7-year-old brother, who couldn’t stop grinning, was happy with his remote-controlled car.

“The kids are really grateful,” said Lizzeth Acosta, a junior in the Springdale High School's Law and Public Safety Academy who was helping. “They were really shy at first, but they started having fun with picking things out.”

The kids faces lit up when they choose their gifts, said Robert Watson, one of several Har-Ber High School students helping.

“One kid said this is the fullest his cart has ever been,” Watson said.

One little boy couldn’t wait to get his toy golf set home so he, his siblings and friends could play with it, said Kyndal Atkinson, another Har-Ber student.

“He wanted to share it so everyone could have fun,” Atkinson said.

The department spent about $25,000 this year, Hudson said. The money came from donations and fundraisers, including the very successful Zombie Battleground at Halloween, Hudson said. The Fraternal Order of Police chipped in $6,000, he said.