CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Children of Cibola were treated, not by Santa Claus, but by law enforcement through Cibola County. In the annual Shop With A Cop event, children in need are taken out of class and given money so they could go shopping just before the holidays, shoppers are joined by a first responder who goes with them through the store.
This project has been running for at least 16 years, according to Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace, who has helped keep the annual event going. “When we first started,” Sheriff Mace said, “we were only giving kids $50.” The 2021 event saw each child receive $200 to spend. The event was originally intent on spending money on 26 students, knowing there are many children in Cibola who are in need, Superior Ambulance made an extra donation allowing one additional student to receive the chance to Shop With A Cop.
Two students from each of the schools were selected, with the exception of Cubero Elementary where a third student was chosen to come out thanks to an extra donation by Superior Ambulance. Kids were chosen by their schools based on need.
When selected for the program, children are exposed to first responders, they get to ride in a cop car or other first responder vehicle and learn a little bit of the good Cibola’s first responders do on a daily basis.
Sheriff Mace said that some students take the money and go directly to the grocery aisle, buying food or other necessities instead of toys. He said the students do eventually make their way to the toy aisle, but they know what they need at home and get it because their family may not have the chance otherwise.
“There are kids who have toys and kids who don’t, you can tell the difference. Some of these kids go for groceries, or socks, sweaters, before they go to the toys,” Sheriff Mace said.
Money for the program is sourced from donations and fundraising events, the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office accepts donations throughout the year to help support this program, they can be dropped off at CCSO’s office at 114 McBride Road in Grants, New Mexico.
Sheriff Mace thanked everyone involved in making this program a success and said that every year the program gets better and more beneficial to the community.