Janesville police officers, students pair up for Christmas gift event
Photo
Madison Elementary third grader Jailay Gonzalez puts a Furby in her cart as Janesville Police officer Valerie Southwick keeps track of the total during Shop with a Cop at Walmart.
Photo
Janesville Police Department officer Kevin Olin helps fit Monroe Elementary School fifth-grader Brianna Raiche with a bike helmet after picking out a new bicycle during Shop with Cop at Wal-Mart in Janesville on Wednesday. At least one student from each of Janesville’s 12 elementary schools got to go on a $208 spending spree during the event.
Photo
Van Buren Elementary school second grader Ericka Stageman smiles as she pushes a cart full of Christmas presents with Sgt. Brian Vaughn during Shop with a Cop at Wal-Mart in Janesville on Wednesday.
Photo
Lincoln Elementary School fifth-grader Skyler Ploof beams after picking out an iPod Touch with Janesville Police officer Gary Myers.
JANESVILLE — Officer Rick Mussey couldn't believe what he saw on his calculator.
"Eighty-four dollars! In the makeup aisle! In five minutes!" he said.
Mussey pushed a cart containing press-on fingernails, hair ties and lip-gloss. Clearly, first-grader Maddie in her blue, sequined party dress had won him over.
"She picked out one lipstick, and then she said, ‘I would really love two,'" Mussey said. "What was I going to say? Of course she should have two. Eighty-four dollars. I love it!"
Then he dashed off after Maddie as she headed for the Barbies.
Mussey and Maddie were one of 13 teams of Janesville police officers and elementary school students in the department's third-annual Shop with a Cop event. A $2,500 donation from Wal-Mart was enough for one student from each of Janesville's 12 elementary schools to go on a $208 spending spree.
An additional $208 from Chambers & Owen of Janesville made it possible for a second student from Wilson Elementary to participate, officer Chad Sullivan said. A pair of siblings got to go, instead of just one.
Participating officers are off duty and volunteer their time, Sullivan said. The children are encouraged to choose things for themselves before buying gifts for family members.
The school district selects students to participate. The requirements are that they have a good attendance record and positive attitudes, Sullivan said.
Ashley Nicole McDaniels' cart was overflowing with gifts. You could see it across the store, and her family was watching from near the cash register.
Ashley Nicole's shopping partner, officer Laurie Valley, attempted to save the day with a large, plush fish.
"Everyone cover your eyes," she said, signaling them to turn around by waving the orange clownfish from the movie "Finding Nemo."
A Wal-Mart employee did one better. She tugged on a large, plastic tarp hanging on a wire above the heads of the McDaniels family. It closed like a giant curtain, and all that could be seen or heard of the McDanielses were their feet and some giggling.
As the event wound down, students and officers refueled with sandwiches and cookies.
Officer Kevin Olin set plastic foam cups of fruit punch out of the way while his partner, Monroe Elementary fifth-grader Brianna Raiche, tried out her new pink lip-gloss and debated whether to give media interviews.
Olin had helped Raiche pick out a bike that fit her and a helmet to match. He helped while she replenished her personal stash of Justin Bieber paraphernalia.
It was the first year Olin has been able to participate in the shopping event.
"I always end up having a conflict," he said. "I canceled something else to be here tonight. I wouldn't have missed it for anything."
Dec 14, 2012 at 10:21 a.m.
Suggest removal
And the rich get richer.
Dec 14, 2012 at 12:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
I think we're all supposed to feel warm and fuzzy inside about this article but I can't help but criticize. $208 for those kids would have gone a lot further in some kind of invest, hell give those kids $208 of current day Walmart stock. Let them save now for a better future. Nope, instead let them buy a fair amount of useless crap from Walmart that they'll probably forget about come January. This is another fine example of over-consumerism in America. I always have to wonder how depression area people like my Grandpa feel when they see articles like this. Back then you were lucky to have a toy, now kids demand a new toy every week.
Dec 13, 2012 at 9:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
It would be really nice to think that Walmart donated those gift cards, and I'm sure they would willingly do so. However, the city delivered a check, for $2500 to pay for them right after the shopping trip was done. This is sad use of tax payer money when a corporation is willing to pay for this!
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.