Shop with a Cop brightens the holiday season for Eagle County kids in need
Area first responder agencies help kids shop for family, friends and themselves
Chris Dillmann/Vail Daily
The valley was a bit more merry and bright on Tuesday, Dec. 10, as nearly 130 kids went on a holiday shopping spree with the help of local first responders. Shop with a Cop returned to Walmart in Avon followed by dinner and a gift-wrapping party at local establishments.
The annual tradition was started by retired Vail Police code enforcement officer Moses Gonzales in 2001. Since then, it’s brought smiles to the faces of not only the kids but the cops.
“Last year was my first year participating in the program.,” said Officer Rio Burgess. “This year, as the Avon Police Department’s School Resource Officer I was in charge of hosting the program for the first time. The best part is watching how excited kids get to shop, see Santa and most of all to give the gifts they select for their families.”
Burgess said popular items this year included Nerf guns, Nintendo Switch games and Squishmallows. Soccer and basketballs, Legos, makeup and earbuds rounded out the wish lists.
“I get to look at the wish lists we ask the kids to complete prior to the event. It’s a great feeling to see the thought and effort these kids put into selecting gifts for their family members over themselves,” said officer Bryan Flynn of the Vail Police Department. Flynn has been participating in Shop with a Cop ever since he joined the force 12 years ago.
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“Some kids shop for their family and friends and need a reminder to shop for themselves,” added Burgess. “Each kid approaches the shopping experience differently.”
The kids each get around $100 to spend on presents for family, friends and themselves.
“We do our best to keep the kids close to their budget but sometimes they go over,” said Lisa Vasquez with the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office. “I even see the first responders with calculators to make sure they don’t go over.”
How are the kids selected to join Shop with a Cop?
“Each school uses their own criteria and knowledge of their students,” Burgess said. “Students are from kindergarten through fifth grade and may be chosen at the request of a parent or because school staff believe they could benefit from a positive one-on-one experience with a first responder, or any other reason to include because the student has earned a fun experience.”
After shopping, the kids are brought to different locations to wrap presents and get a great meal. The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office and Eagle Police Department went to 4 Eagle Ranch near Wolcott, the Vail Police Department went to the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Vail, and the Avon Police Department went to the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon.
“This year we had a lot of help wrapping gifts and the Eagle River Fire Protection District’s Engine 7 even brought over Santa to the Westin,” Burgess said.
Shop with a Cop not only allows the kids to get gifts for themselves and others, but it’s also a gift that keeps on giving when the cops see the kids years later.
“It’s always fun to have kids come up acknowledging the fun memories they had so many years ago and they tell us about the difference we made in their lives or hearing from parents how much fun the kids had,” Vasquez said.
This would not be possible without Shop with a Cop sponsors and volunteers.
“I’d love to highlight the incredible generosity of our community,” Flynn said. “The nameless people who donate their time, money and resources along with business and nonprofits like Holy Cross Energy, Walmart and Vail Valley Cares, truly make this event special.”
Contact one of the local law enforcement agencies to donate money, time or products to make next year’s Shop with a Cop special for the kids of Eagle County.
