Perry County Coon Hunters Club donates to FOP

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The Fraternal Order of Police received a donation from a local organization to help make Christmas better for local children.

The Fraternal Order of Police Association of Muskingum, Morgan, and Perry County is preparing for their annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ program this December. FOP President Jim Hicks said the Perry County Coon Hunters Club continues to help fund the annual event. He said this donation is made in the name of one the Coon Hunter’s members.

“Four years ago the Perry County Coon Hunters had one on their members, a 13-year-old boy named Jared Helsel passed away,” said Hicks. “They wanted to do something to remember him. They did a fundraiser, and they picked the ‘Shop with a Cop’ program to make the donation too.”

This years donation to FOP was over $2,200. ‘Shop with a Cop’ teams ups officers with children. They take them to Walmart and buy Christmas toys and warm clothing for winter. Hicks said this shows police officers are there to help people.

“Sometimes when they meet an officer it’s a stressful situation,” said Hicks. “We just want to get familiar and when we do these programs, things like the K-9. We normally have one or two K-9 officers there to have the kids interact with the dogs and interact with the officers. Sometimes we let them climb in and out of the cars. It’s helping needy children and promoting the law enforcement at the same time.”

Hicks said being able to help out the children in the community is something that people look forward to every year. He also wants to say thanks because without donations ‘Shop with a Cop’ wouldn’t be possible.