Officer Cecilia Martinez of the Val Verde Unified School District Police Department helps RICA patient Ja'Nice pick out gifts during the "Shop with a Cop" event at Walmart on Friday, Dec. 6.
For 50 children navigating the challenges of foster care, homelessness, or the incarceration of a parent, Friday, Dec. 6. was a day to forget their troubles, even if only for a moment. Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH) partnered with Val Verde Unified School District Police Department to host a heartwarming “Shop with a Cop” at Walmart in Colton, CA.
The event was organized by the hospital’s Resiliency Institute for Childhood Adversity (RICA), welcoming 50 children, each receiving $100 to shop for holiday gifts, thanks to donations from the police department.
“This is the best day ever — probably in my whole life and even in the future,” one young boy told Amy Young, MD, director of RICA.
RICA provides services for infants and children up to age 21 in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including mental health support, primary care, and educational advocacy.
For Young, the event was as meaningful for her as it was for the children. “Today’s like the highlight of all my Christmases,” she said. “Hearing them laugh and connect with officers positively puts law enforcement in a light that reminds us of their role in protecting children.”
Adding to the festive atmosphere, an anonymous donor purchased some bicycles for the children.
The event was an opportunity for the officers to engage with their community in a way that goes beyond their usual duties.
“This is why I got into law enforcement 28 years ago,” said Mark Clark, chief of the Val Verde Police Department. “Too often, we focus so much on enforcement that we miss opportunities to truly connect with young people and embody what community policing is all about. Initiatives like this are what I want my department to prioritize because they make a meaningful difference.”
More stories about: Children’s Hospital Children's health
