Lorain Meijer hosts first round of Cops and Kids shoppers

LORAIN — For about two dozen kids Wednesday evening, Santa's helpers wore badges and radios. Under the bright fluorescent lights of Meijer's Lorain store, children and their families, alongside members of the Lorain Police Department, Lorain Fire Department, LifeCare, State Highway Patrol, Lorain County Sheriff's Office and Cleveland Clinic police walked aisle by aisle, filling each child's cart with clothes and toys for the holiday season. This year marks more than 15 years Lorain police have organized the annual Cops and Kids program as a way to ease the stress of the holidays for families in need or help those who may have suffered a loss during the year. Lorain fire Lt. Dan McBennett pushed a cart with 5-year-old Gabriel Cook perched in the basket. His mother, Marissa Cook, held the plastic fire cadet hat McBennett had given him minutes earlier. "I love that they do this," Marissa Cook said. "He gets used to being around first responders." McBennett promised the young boy a look at the firetruck and a tour of the station any time he wanted. "I'm glad they involved us and invited us," McBennett said of the program — as it is often only police officers helping the kids pick out their toys. He said he had often been jealous of the Cops and Kids event. In another aisle, Gil Raby, 10, contemplated a Bluetooth speaker. The Cops and Kids program was something he'd come to look forward to every year, he said, as he'd participated several times. "It's fun," he said before running off to look at the tablets he could pick from with the money he had left. Elyria Highway Patrol Post Cmdr. Lt. Ray Santiago applauded Meijer for wanting to host the program. "It really is amazing for them to actively want to give back," he said. "... They're not here to take credit." Wednesday's event was the first time the event was at the Lorain Meijer store. The two dozen children chosen for Wednesday's shopping spree were mostly older — and more interested in clothing, electronics or makeup, Community Outreach Officer Miguel Baez said. Additionally, many of the children on Wednesday had autism or other diagnoses that may make the larger Cops and Kids event on Saturday too much for them to handle. Meijer Store Director TJ Hunter was happy to partner with the department. Meijer donated $4,000 for the kids to shop with, with the Lorain Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3 kicking in another $1,000 — giving each child up to about $200 to spend. Hunter said part of the company's mission is to contribute to the communities it serves, and hoped to see the LPD program return next season. "I love seeing our first responders here — it's great to see them have the same smile as the kids," Hunter said. The larger event at Walmart will see about 100 children and dozens of officers fill the toy, electronic and clothing aisles at the Lorain Walmart for the program's 16th year. Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.