OSBURN — The police department’s annual Shop-With-A-Cop holiday event is looking for shopper nominations. 

Each year, roughly 100 kids are taken shopping with members of Shoshone County’s law enforcement and EMS agencies.  

“The purpose of the event is to foster positive relationships between youth and officers,” OPD Lt. Jason Woody said. 

Children, kindergarten to sixth grade, are selected to shop at an area store to purchase gifts for their family and for themselves.

Kids are nominated by community members and law enforcement reviews the nominations.

According to Woody, last year they received 120 nominations but could only take 100 kids. Each shopper receives roughly $100.

One or two children are assigned to each police officer and support personnel, Woody said. 

After shopping, the children will eat lunch with law enforcement, wrap their gifts and continue to get to know the police officers. The children will then return to their residences with the gifts.

The program is funded through donations. Each year, OPD raises at least $10,000.

“We hope that all children nominated will be able to participate, but we know this will probably not be possible,” Woody said. “Please write a note on the child’s nomination form explaining some of the reasoning you used in making your decision to nominate that particular child.” 

To donate to the Shop-With-A-Cop program, reach out to Osburn City Hall at 208-752-0001. 

Nomination forms can be found at Osburn City Hall, local law enforcement offices or at www.svcares.org. The deadline for nomination applications is Dec. 4.