Cops & Kids Christmas shopping breaks record

Jamestown (CSi) The , on Sunday,  this year had a record-breaking 41 children participating. Submitted photos for CSiNewsNow by Nellie Degen.

Coordinator for the event, Stutsman County Deputy, Elizabeth Kapp says, Last year 27 children participated

Children ages 5 to 12 are selected through social services or members of the community who speak with Stutsman County Law Enforcement Center representatives about prospective participants, including teachers, officers, parents and others,

This year was the first year the children also received a reusable shopping bag filled with canned chicken, canned vegetables, instant milk, fruit snacks, macaroni and cheese, candy canes, water and other non-perishable food items, all donated by Wal-Mart.

Representatives from the Jamestown Police Department, Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office, North Dakota Highway Patrol, James River Correctional Center, Stutsman County Correctional Center, Stutsman County Reserve deputies, Foster County Sheriff’s Department, Wal-Mart and other members of the community who volunteered to wrap presents all contributed to this event.

Sergeant Mitch Seibel, at the JRCC, helped organize a wiffle-ball tournament and a bean-bag toss tournament with Jody Larson, lieutenant at JRCC, to raise funds for the event this year.

Collectively, the tournaments raised about $2,000, Seibel said.

The Fraternal Order of Police in Jamestown also hosts events yearly to raise funds to for this event and others of its kind, including music clubs and youth programs.