The City of Parkville Police Department hosted its 4th Annual Back to School Program to provide school supplies, backpacks, clothes and other essentials to area Parkville children in need and to help foster positive relationships between youth and the Police. Eleven children were provided with supplies and clothes to help them start off the new school year.
The idea for the Back to School Program came from the City’s “Shop with a Cop” program that began in 2010 to assist children and families in need during the Christmas season. “Shop with a Cop” grew into the Parkville Police Community Assistance Fund which continues to grow with citizen participation and increased donations annually. While the main benefactor of the fund is the “Shop with a Cop” program, the fund is used for similar assistance programs at the discretion of the Chief of Police. All of the donations received are given back to the community.
The Parkville Police Department began the Back to School Program in 2016 to help fill a need in the community for elementary school-aged children. Sergeant Laura Shadid coordinated the event for the third year in a row, along with help from local volunteers.
Families in the Park Hill School District were interviewed and 11 were chosen to receive school supplies and other essentials. The Police Department hopes that the program will help kids appreciate law enforcement while it gives back to the community it serves.
Police Chief Kevin Chrisman said, “It is always a great day when we can put smiles on the faces of children and help them start the school year in a positive way.”
For more information about the program, contact the Parkville Police Department at (816) 741-4454.
