Students boost Shop with a Cop budget

As the big shopping days draw near, the Great Falls Police Protective Association is wrapping up its fundraising campaign for the Shop with a Cop program.

“We have reached about 90 percent of our overall fundraising goal,” said GFPD Detective Cory Reeves, who also serves as a spokesman for the GFPPA.

Students at Great Falls High, where Reeves is assigned as the school resource officer, helped fill the Shop with a Cop jar to the tune of $2,700 through a philanthropic campaign during homecoming festivities.

“Every year we raise a ton of money in two weeks,” GFH Student Council President Maddie Good said.

Student council officers organize the fundraising effort, which includes “penny wars,” admission to the powder puff football game and “pass the bucket” pushes at homecoming events. In the past, the students supported children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year’s homecoming theme was “Heroes and Villains,” so the group decided to focus on a charity run by “local heroes.”

According to GFH Student Council Vice President Robert Bruskotter, the fundraising focus this year was “different, but well-supported.”

“Everyone is so generous,” Good said of her classmates.

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“It helps that the community is so close,” GFH Student Council treasurer LynDee Feisthamel said. “They know it’s going toward a good cause.”

In fact, some of the students donating their change and $1 bills were former Shop with a Cop participants, elementary students nominated to be paired with a police officer for a shopping trip at Wal-Mart or Target.

“We firmly believe that our Shop with a Cop program fosters positive relationships with our youth, which in turn deters them from choosing a path of criminal behavior,” Reeves has said.

On Tuesday, a group of seniors presented an appreciative Reeves with the check for the GFPPA.

While the students’ generous contribution played a big part in helping the GFPPA near its goal, Reeves hopes the nonprofit can raise the final funds needed for this year’s program.

Mailers soliciting donations were sent to all previous donors in Cascade County earlier in the fall. The group also has partnered with Buffalo Wild Wings for a second time. The restaurant will donate 20 percent of the total bill to the Shop with a Cop program for diners presenting the event coupon in digital or paper form on Dec. 7. The coupon is available with the online version of this story, and also will be distributed by GFPPA members.

Andrea Fisher is the crime and breaking news reporter for the Tribune. Reach her at anfisher@greatfallstribune.com or 791-6585. Follow her on Twitter @GFTrib_Andrea or Facbook.com/gftribandrea.