CHUBBUCK — Bannock County Sheriff’s Cpl. John White had the pleasure of guiding 7-year-old Brooklyn Lefevre through the smile-filled aisles of Shopko in search of gifts for her family Saturday morning.

    Brooklyn described the experience as exciting.

    “I had a lot of fun shopping for Christmas presents for my family,” she said.

    The annual Shop With a Cop took 85 young shoppers paired up with area law enforcement officers to buy gifts for family members. It was the largest number of young participants in the event’s 19-year history, according to Shopko Manager Chad Tolman.

    “We've had great success this year,“ he said. “I love doing this event. It's something we work on for 12 months and always look forward to hosting.”

    This is the fourth year Shopko has hosted the event. Tolman said throughout the year the store and local law enforcement raised nearly $13,000 for gifts selected by children for their families through various fundraisers.

    Shopko also supplied the gift wrapping, cinnamon rolls and photos with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

    “The community has just been awesome in helping us out this year,” Tolman said.

    Tolman said many local businesses such as McDonald’s, Lava Hot Springs Swimming Complex and Utah Helicopter contributed to making the event such a success. The children were treated to a free breakfast at McDonald’s before making their way in a nearly half-mile long procession of law enforcement vehicles into the Shopko parking lot.

    There children were greeted in an early morning dusting of snow by Santa Claus, who arrived with Mrs. Claus by helicopter, much to the children’s delight.

    Southeast Idaho Community Action Agency was one of the organizations involved in selecting eligible families with a child between the ages 6 to 9 years old. The children selected are typically children in need.

    Julia Campbell, the community service director of SEICAA, said most the children involved in the event have never ever been able to buy a present for their families. “They've only received gifts”, she said. “So this means a lot to them.”

     “I think it teaches them to give back and how good that feels,” she said. “If we can foster that at an early age, hopefully as they grow older they'll remember that feeling.”

    Campbell also believes it builds a relationship for the kids with the officers and teaches them not to look at them in a bad light.

    "I've seen some really cute things in the aisles here,” she said. “And every officer I've ever talked to after the event says ‘that was an event I can't believe I missed ever before,’ and once they've done it, they won't miss it again.”

    The SEICAA director said each child had the opportunity to spend a set amount of money on each member of their immediate family and some even got to buy themselves a present this year. The children also receive a backpack full of coupons from local merchants as well as a photo of Santa for both them and the officer who guided their mini-holiday shopping spree.

    Pocatello Police Department Officer Orlando Cardenas participated in his third Shop With a Cop event and has enjoyed each experience.

    “I enjoy shopping and mingling with the kids to show them that were not all about taking people to jail. We’re also here to help the community and the kids.”

    Cpl. Jeremy Taysom, president of the Bannock County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, said more than 100 officers from Bannock County, Power County, Pocatello, Chubbuck, Idaho State Police, American Falls, Idaho State University Public Safety and Cadets and Oneida County volunteered their time for this year’s event. The most ever, according to Taysom.

    “This is the first year we've had more kids than officers,” he said. “We just enjoy helping the kids and the community, most the officers here are volunteering their time for this great cause.”

    He said it would not have been possible without community support and is grateful for the many hours put in by Shopko and others to make this event possible.

    “I've done it now for 17 years,” Taysom said. “I'll definitely be back again next year.”

    Pocatello, Century, and Highland high school cheerleading squads were on hand to assist as well, they provided all the gift wrapping and even did a little shopping with the children. Including best friends Savannah Apodaca and Jasmine Warren from Century and Pocatello respectively, who are participating for the second straight year.

    “We like helping out the little kids, it's fun helping them shop for their families,” Savahhan said. “I just like making them happy.”