Document text
For the sixth year in a row, Ashland police officers grabbed carts and got shopping with children who otherwise wouldn't have much to open Christmas morning. By 8 a.m. Saturday, Deputy Chief Warren Hensman, who coordinated the event, had successfully paired 16 children with staff from the Ashland Police Department who volunteered time to participate in the "Shop With a Cop" event at the south Medford Walmart store. He attributed his quick work to being a cashier years ago. Officers helped children select toys from Disney's movie "Frozen," dolls from TV shows "Monster High" and "Ever High," as well as Lego play sets and other toys. For Shonna Vance's 5-year-old daughter, Ellia, taking the top spot in the cart was a sparkly set of 12-inch Anna and Elsa dolls from "Frozen," while officer Scott Wenzel pushed the cart. As she selected a gardening play set, Ellia asked her mother whether she could open it when they went home. "No, sweetie. We're going to wrap 'em up so we have some stuff to open under the tree," Vance said. For Vance, who faced unemployment just before the holidays, the event meant Ellia was cushioned from her mother's hardship. "I lost my job on the 20th (of November), because she just kept getting sick," Vance said. Hensman said 18 Ashland police staffers volunteered their time for the event, including 14 officers, two cadets, one evidence technician and a support staffer. Some officers just off of their 12-hour shift still had mud on their slacks from a chase late Friday night. "It's so easy getting volunteers," Hensman said. For officers who spend their shift at a certain adrenaline and stress level, helping a child shop can help them unwind, Hensman said.  Families were referred to the police department for the event through the Ashland St. Vincent de Paul, and the approximately $120 each of the 17 children got to spend came from the Rotary Club of Ashland Lithia Springs and Walmart, each of which donated $1,000. Sixteen children attended, but a 17th child couldn't make it because she was ill, according to Hensman. "We gave mom the gift card," Hensman said. Vaeh Harper, who's 6 years old but eager to say that she'll turn 7 in January, looked all through the craft section with her grandmother Mona Foster for a Kinetic Sand Ice Castle building set she'd seen in stores, as Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara pushed the cart. With the help of store associate Jody Ciapponi, Harper found the glittery blue and purple set in the toy department. "That's it," she said as she ran to it. Although she already had a "Frozen" Ultimate Olaf talking plush toy in the cart, Vaeh still had $45 to spend. She looked through the board-games section and studied Pop the Pig, a game where players fill a toy pig with plastic "food" pieces hoping it's not one piece too many. Vaeh was getting indecisive, so O'Meara suggested she add it to the cart. "Everyone likes pigs," O'Meara said. Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat.