The Fraternal Order of Police Foundation, Inc. of Topeka/ Shawnee County was founded in 2012 after two Topeka officers, Corporal David Gogian and Police Officer Jeff Atherly, were killed in the line of duty. The nonprofit’s original mission was to raise money to help officers and their families in their times of need.
In 2013, the Foundation expanded its outreach by adopting the Cops and Kids program, which takes place over the holiday season.
“Cops and Kids, which was originally called Shop with a Cop, has been going on for approximately 40 years,” says Detective Heather Stults-Lindsay, a 25-year veteran of the Topeka Police Department and the president of the FOP Foundation who retired in November. “It started as a program with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge.”
Cops and Kids partner with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Shawnee County, and last year expanded to partner with TARC of Shawnee County. TARC provides support for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This event gives 100 children in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program a $100 Walmart gift card to purchase family presents. “We have a huge number of officers turn up the day of the event,” she says. “They'll go shopping with the kids to pick out what they want, and help them buy gifts for family members.”
Some kids also come with their parents and Big Brother or Big Sister. Instead of buying presents just for themselves, some of the children choose to buy presents for one of their siblings, or a gift for their parents. “That's really sweet to see,” says the detective.
The program not only allows children to enjoy a happier holiday season, but it also provides a positive experience with law enforcement. “A lot of times, when these kids have contact with the police, it's not always under the best circumstances,” says Detective Stults-Lindsay. “So, our goal is to help kids see officers in a different light, to see who they are behind the badge, and that they’re just regular people.”
The TARC program, geared towards infants and toddlers, provides parents a $100 Target gift card for items for their children. Most of the parents, she says, use it to buy much-needed supplies such as diapers and formula. Last year, the Foundation served 50 TARC families and this year hopes to serve 100.
“We really want to focus on taking care of children in our community, and we're very thankful to our community partners, Target and Walmart, for being a big part of this program and helping us to keep it going.”
Detective Stults-Lindsay, whose father was also in law enforcement, says being involved with the Foundation allows her and the board members to support officers and their families. “Cops and Kids provides an opportunity for law enforcement to support children in our community.”
To learn more, and to donate towards the FOP Foundation and Cops and Kids, please use the links below:
“Cops and Kids provides an opportunity for law enforcement to support children in our community.”