Retired and active duty law enforcement officers collectively took 35 kids from the tri-county area on a shopping adventure 7 a.m. Saturday at Target of New Bern.
It was a chance for some of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #52 to show the youngsters in Craven, Pamlico and Jones counties that police are kid's friends.
The children, thanks to donations, had a budget of $125 to stock up on shoes, jackets, shirts, dresses crayons, pencils, paper or whatever they wanted and needed for school.
Zavius Simmons, 9, enters the fifth grade in late August.
"I hope to get some new shoes, pants and shirts and a new jacket," he said.
Zavius attended New Bern Police Department's annual police camp. That is how he heard of the shopping event.
Retired Craven County Sheriff's Deputy Donnie Lamm a member of the FOP said the shopping event, known as Kops N Kids, is an effort to help children.
"It also shows children that cops are not bad people, that our mission was and is to help everyone," Lamm said.
Se'Ovan Moore, along with an adult, was the first to finish shopping. He said his dad cased the store Friday to see the location of shirts and pants that would help the shopping experience go smoothly.
"I really enjoyed it," he said. "It was so nice of the store and the police."
There are about 65 members of the FOP #52, according to New Bern police Lt. Mark Van Behren. "This is a great event," he said.
Copyright 2012 - Sun Journal, New Bern, N.C.
