PORT ANGELES — Clallam County’s Shop with a Hero program is about more than just buying people gifts: it’s an example of the community coming together to support those in need.
Largely due to community donations, the program was able to help about 150 children achieve Christmas wishes this year.
Last week, Walmart was decked out for the event. It had a gift-wrapping station, hot chocolate, a place to decorate cookies, Santa Claus and 40 to 50 first responders who were ready to wander the aisles with families.
Each participating family was given $175 that they could use to purchase anything they wanted, according to organizer and Lower Elwha Police Department Lieutenant Jim Thompson.
While a big goal of the program is to help kids and families who might be in need during the holidays, a secondary goal is to make connections and build bridges between law enforcement and the community.
“We’re spreading awareness that people can feel comfortable talking to the police,” organizer and Port Angeles Police Department (PAPD) School Resources Officer Jason Hooper said.
During this year’s Shop with a Hero, Thompson said he witnessed positive relationships being built. A young lady who seemed anxious and was crying at the beginning of the program was able to connect with a PAPD officer while shopping.
“They went out and had a great time, and when she left, she was smiling and happy,” Thompson said.
The local Shop with a Hero program, similar to the national Shop with a Cop program, originated in 2020, Thompson said.
Rather than simply focusing on cops, it includes all first responders, including firefighters, emergency medical service responders, dispatchers, hospital emergency room nurses and doctors, the military, the Coast Guard and even Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) members.
“All of the first responders have participated at some point,” Thompson said.
So far, the program has identified participants through referrals from the Clallam County Child Advocate Program, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe (LEKT) social services program, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe social and community services program and the PAPD.
Although the goal is to help as many families as possible, the program is limited by funding, the same constraints that any program faces.
Shop with a Hero is funded through a combination of grants and private donations. This year, it received support from Walmart, LEKT, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Peninsula Bottling, the Port Angeles Senior and Community Center, the LIFT Kids, Rainshadow and Hawks Nest Oxford Houses, the local Teamsters Union, Peninsula Taproom, Costco and Swains.
“We’re hoping to figure out a way to help more families,” Hooper said.
If individuals or businesses want to donate for next year, Thompson said they can send donations to the Port Angeles Police Association or Olympic View Community Foundation, with a note earmarking the donation for Shop with a Hero.
“Any little bit helps,” Thompson said.
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
