Brookings, SD - Staff at Dakotaland FCU recently held a Thanksgiving Bake Sale and raised $680, donating the entire proceeds to the Christmas Kids and Cops program in Brookings. Christmas Kids and Cops is an annual event that matches kids in need with a law enforcement officer for a night of gift shopping at Wal-Mart. For the last several years, the program has served approximately 30 children, giving them $250 each. While $250 may sound like a lot of money, the kids use it to select gifts for their entire families – moms, dads, siblings, and grandparents.

According to the Brookings Register, Christmas, Kids and Cops has been a part of the community for the past 12 years and helped more than 300 families since its start. Children are selected from schools in Brookings County, and the schools’ principals and counselors help the officers make the selection each year, with the goal of helping different families each year.

For some families, the Christmas season can be very stressful, when children are looking forward to a Merry Christmas and yet there are bills to be paid. Programs such as this, with the support of organizations like Dakotaland FCU, help to keep their spirits bright!