The Merlin Foundation hosted its annual Shop With a Cop event on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Berryville Walmart, providing Christmas gifts for 52 children.
More than a dozen law enforcement officers from agencies including the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Berryville Police Department, the Green Forest Police Department, the Eureka Springs Police Department and the Arkansas State Police participated, helping children shop for their gifts.
“We had another successful event thanks to our friends in law enforcement from across Carroll County and our generous community members!” said Michelle Steiner, executive director of the Merlin Foundation. “Carroll County is our home and we are happy to serve the children and families who need a little extra. This is always our favorite day of the year and we are so blessed to be the host of this special holiday event!”
Berryville police chief Robert Bartos serves on the Merlin Foundation’s board of directors and has participated in the Shop With a Cop event for many years.
“We had a lot of good donations and support from the community and the officers to go out and do that,” Bartos said. “So we had a pretty good year.”
Carroll County Sheriff Daniel Klatt said the sheriff’s office sponsored a golf tournament earlier in the year that raised almost $3,000 for Shop With a Cop.
“We were able to raise quite a bit of money,” Klatt said.
Lt. Allen Phillips and detective Andres Lemus of the Green Forest Police Department were among the officers who took part in the event.
“It’s good for the police department and good for the kids and their parents,” Phillips said. “The kids are ecstatic. They don’t get to do that that often, so when they get to go and pick their own toys, it’s a good thing for them.”
Eureka Springs police chief Billy Floyd said three Eureka Springs officers participated in the event.
“They get a chance to let the kids know that the officers are on their side,” Floyd said. “There’s always the knowledge that they’re helping something that’s outside of their normal, everyday work. So, knowing that it goes directly to help the kids really gives them a sense of community and helping hands.”
