Cops for Kids Gets Rolling for the Holidays

The Enumclaw Police Auxiliary is ramping up for its annual Cops for Kids donations program that last year saw to it that more than 400 children who may not have otherwise gotten any Christmas presents received a toy or other age-appropriate gift.

Yesterday, organizers began to place boxes in various stores downtown to collect donations of toys or gift cards -- they are also being received at the , Officer Dustin Lobdell, the department's liaison with the Auxiliary, said.

To ensure that that all children receive something that is appropriate for their age group, organizers this year have set up a Christmas tree at the station that is decked with ornaments that list specific age ranges. Someone who wants to help can choose a specific age group to focus on, Auxiliary member Joan Adams said.

For example, while it's easy to purchase toys for small children, it gets more difficult to find something that a teenager might like, Lobdell said. Organizers suggest items like a gift card from Target for a teenaged girl or some sort of sports equipment for a teenaged boy would fit their needs.

Organizers also suggest donations steer away from clothes as the gifts are given blind and it's difficult to know what would fit property, Adams said. However, scarves and mittens are fine.

A Generous Community

Last year, nearly 200 local families representing about 400 children benefitted from the program, according to Adams.

Presently, the Auxiliary estimates there are about 700 children eligible for the Cops for Kids program this year, she said.

The Auxiliary, which is made up of about a dozen police volunteers, works with the Enumclaw School District and Kiwanis Food Bank to identify eligible families based on who is receiving free and reduced lunches in school. Kiwanis then invites these families to collect Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, and in their correspondence to the families, the Auxiliary includes its own application for the Cops for Kids program, Adams said.

And the program is more than able to meet these needs. The Auxiliary has the proper funds to support the program and is bolstered by additional support from various groups in the community, Adams said. The Cops for Kids program has been going for at least 15 years, said Lobdell. It began with two police dispatchers, and one -- Barb Hosford, is still working in the dispatch office, he said.

In that time, a youth group from as well as Mutual of Enumclaw have donated items. Schoolchildren at and also make crafts each year to sell, and then they go to Target to purchase gifts at a 10 percent discount offered by the store.

How It Works

The families who submit applications have the option to either attend a Santa Party where they can collect their gift(s), or they can have them delivered to them by police officers and volunteers.

Last year, 106 families attended the party and officers delivered to 79 families, said Adams.

This year's Santa Party is on Saturday, December 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Danish Hall. The delivery date is set for Wednesday, December 21.

If your family qualifies for the Cops for Kids program -- your child(ren) receive free or reduced meals at school -- and you did not receive an application, you can pick up an application at the police station. Ask for one at the dispatch window.

Have some Free Time?

The Auxiliary appreciates any volunteers who might be available to help wrap the gifts for the children this year. Those interested can call the police station at 360-825-3505 and ask for Officer Lobdell. The Auxiliary will be hosting several wrapping parties in the first two weeks of December -- most likely in the evenings.

Those who might also be interested in volunteering at the Santa Party or in delivering gifts can also contact Officer Lobdell at the same number above.