SHOP WITH COP HELPS 160 KIDS

James, 11, says without the Shop With A Cop program he wouldn't have Christmas this year.

"My mom doesn't have enough money to buy me or my brothers toys for Christmas," said James, of Cape Girardeau. "Now we're going to get toys."

James was among 160 underprivileged children from Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott and Perry counties who filled shopping carts Thursday at Wal-Mart with $50 worth of toys as part of the program.

"This is a blessing for foster mothers, real moms and the kids," said Jan Zahlen, whose 13-year-old foster son got to pick out a radio, cassettes and a watch with his two brothers, who are in different foster homes. "It also gives them time to be together," she said.

The cost of raising children sometimes makes it difficult to provide for them, and toys are secondary to food and clothing, she said. This program sees to it the kids get toys.

About 50 police officers accompanied the children around the store's toy section. Wal-Mart co-sponsors the program with the local Fraternal Order of Police. The children were picked by the Division of Family Services.

Both organizations held fund-raising events throughout the year. The police had telemarketing events and offered crime-tip pamphlets in exchange for donations. Wal-Mart had in-store donation drives and promotions.

Police raised $1,500 and Wal-Mart employees $2,500. The store matched the funds, which provided a total of $8,000.

Representative officers were from Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Marble Hill, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department, Scott City, Scott County Sheriff's Department, Advance and the Missouri Highway Patrol.

"It's very satisfying," said Cape Girardeau police Cpl. Barry Hovis, president of the FOP. "We just want to help the children who come from a family who may not be able to afford toys for their children."

The program might give children a positive image of police officers, he said.

"Some of these kids have seen us come into their homes and stop their parents from fighting, and that's not a very positive image," Hovis said. "We hope this might make them see us as the good guys."

Wal-Mart manager Terry Goodwin said Wal-Mart wants to give something back to the community and help the children.

"But we also want to show them that policemen are not the enemy," he said. "Helping the kids shop is a great experience, and it helps them build stronger relationships with police."