Photo Gallery: Shop With an Officer in Lakewood Showcases Holiday Spirit

Garrett Whitbeck's blue eyes lit up after seeing his favorite video game behind the glass case at Lakewood's Super Walmart on Monday morning.

"Oh, Oh, Oh, I found what I want!" exclaimed the 10-year-old student upon finding a new wrestling game for the Wii console.

His excitement, though, was immediately curbed. He knew why he was there. He knew this wasn't just about him.

"We're having a hard time," Garrett said of his family’s holiday season. "We don't have a lot of money. This is a way for me to tell them I love them and that I care about them."

Lakewood Police officers blitzed the Walmart with 20 local children after picking them up from their homes in patrol cars for Christmas shopping in the second annual Shop with an Officer event.

Garrett shopped for his family with Lakewood Police Officer Arron Grant before carefully picking out two of his favorite video games.

"It's fun to take these kids out," said Grant, who posed for a photo with his grinning shopping buddy. "There's nothing better than this, for sure.”

Twenty Lakewood Police officers volunteered their time, helping youths find items from a detailed Christmas list. More than 20 families and 74 children were supported with $6,000 in gifts courtesy of Walmart and the Lakewood Officers’ Charity. Each family member received an average of more than $60 in gifts.

Big on the kids’ shopping trip this year were pajamas, socks and underwear — necessities for their families. The charity solicited family nominations for the program through counselors from the .

Shopping with an officer brought joy to Lakeview third-grader Elizabeth Benson. Her family's house recently burned down and they were forced to relocate. It would have been a much tougher Christmas season if not for the special holiday shopping event.

Jason Cannon, her shopping police partner, said Elizabeth thought more about her family and not herself.

"They realize what's important," Cannon said.

Elizabeth’s take on the event? "It's fun, really fun.”

The Lakewood Officers’ Charity program has nearly doubled in size, going from 12 families last year to 20. About one-fifth of the Lakewood Police Department volunteered time Monday. Lead organizer John Unfred said there's certainly no shortage of families in need.

"We work all year raising money," Unfred said. "It's nice to get to spend the money."

Be sure you visit the Patch photo gallery to see the children and Lakewood Police officers shopping.

Second annual Lakewood Officers’ Charity Shop With An Officer

• The event is jointly sponsored by Wal-Mart and the Lakewood Officers’ Charity.
• Wal-Mart is supporting this program with a $3,000 grant for 2011, which is then matched by the Lakewood Officers’ Charity for a total of $6,000 in expenditures for the program.
• Wal-Mart also supplies gift bags for each child (toiletries and school supplies), gift-wrapping for all gifts, food and a Santa Claus.
• The Lakewood Officers’ Charity provides 20 volunteer Lakewood Police Officers who pick up and shop with nominated children (who shop for their entire family).
• For 2011, 74 children and 32 parents from 20 families will be supported
• Each family member receives an average of over $60 in gifts. [Story says average of $60, not over $60.]
• The children are nominated for the program through counselors from Clover Park School District.
• It takes nominations from the five elementary schools with the highest rate of free/reduced school lunch in the district.
• This program is made possible by generous donations from the Lakewood community, especially from the annual Helmets vs. Shields charity basketball game every spring.