Inglis "Shop with a Cop" program gifted 10 children!

By Deborah Russell, Newscaster Editor

     An idea first discussed by Inglis Police Chief Steve Dixon and Officer Tim Letson became a blessing to ten fortunate Inglis children, just three days before Christmas this year, when their names were drawn at the Inglis Police Department for the first-annual "Shop with a Cop" program in Inglis.

      The Inglis Police Department decided to share some Christmas spirit with local children, and police department employees donated money for their "Shop with a Cop" program. Boys and girls up to age 10 were invited to stop by the Inglis Police Department during daytime hours to register for the drawing.The police department decided to take one girl and one boy on the trip, but when the police department started advertising to receive applications from local children, the outpouring of generosity from the community made it possible for ten children to share in the Christmas bounty!

      The childrens' names were ramdomly drawn on Dec. 22. Amazingly, the names drawn included four pairs of siblings. A shopping expedition to the Ocala S.R. 200 Wal-Mart was quickly arranged, and off went the group of lucky children, along with family members, police department employees and Mayor Bill Lake. Each child was told that he or she could spend $100. Several children went over their budget and some came in under budget, but when the cash register totaled the purchases, the children had spent $994.50, leaving $5.40 of the donated money - which will go in to the coffer for next year's program!

     This first "Shop with a Cop" program was a learning experience, and Chief Dixon plans to make this an annual event, but with more publicity in order to draw more children, and he is praying for an even more generous outpouring from the community for next year's "Shop with a Cop" program. Anyone who would like to be a donor for this worthwhile cause is urged to contact the Inglis Police Department at (352) 447-0303.

     The many pictures taken of the shopping trip showed that the parents and police officers had at least as much fun as the children (if not more)!   The donations were greatly appreciated. Donors include: Mr. and Mrs. Bob Goode, Bill Lake, Andy White, Gary Mosher, Arlene and Bill Monteverte, Diamond Investments, Captain's Cove Outfitters, AMVETS, Inglis Police Department employees, VFW Post 8698 and two anonymous contributors.