Burbank Police Dept. helps local children with their holiday shopping
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Donning Santa hats, 25 Burbank children, each paired with a Burbank police officer or cadet, scurried through Kmart on Wednesday evening, picking out presents for themselves and their loved ones.
With a $2,500 donation from the Burbank Noon Rotary, each child was given a $100 gift card to spend at the store as part of Burbank’s annual Shop with a Cop program.
The participants, selected by the Boys and Girls Club of Burbank, often come from low-income or underprivileged families, police said.
Milee Ruiz, 8, of Burbank, holds a doll that she is interested in getting and discusses it with Burbank Police Explorer Luda Ulrichat Kmart in Burbank on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. Detective Steve Karagiosian, who has a daughter, takes a look at the dolls in the aisle.
Milee Ruiz, 8, of Burbank, holds a doll that she is interested in getting and discusses it with Burbank Police Explorer Luda Ulrichat Kmart in Burbank on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
“Without this event, a lot of kids are not able to get presents for themselves or their family members,” said Burbank Police Officer and K-9 handler Joel Rodriguez, who brought one of the agency’s police dogs, Kimo, to play with the kids.
Among the shoppers was 13-year-old Courtney Aguilar, who planned to use her gift card to buy presents for her mother and her dog.
She’d been called to the principal’s office the day before to be informed about the shopping spree. At first, the call to the office made her nervous.
“I thought I was in trouble,” she said, smiling. “I was relieved.”
Before Wednesday, she’d never interacted with a police officer before.
Her friend, 12-year-old Allison Iraheta also participated in the shopping spree for the third year in a row. She planned to buy fuzzy socks and sweaters for her parents for an upcoming trip to Sequoia.
Officers said the event is also an opportunity for Burbank’s youngsters to interact with police in a positive environment.
“Seeing how excited the kids are, it really makes the season for us,” said Renee Johnson, president of the Burbank Noon Rotary.
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Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com
Twitter: @atchek
