BOISE -- Kids in the Boise School District have just a few days of summer left.
And that means time is running out for parents to get back-to-school clothes and supplies in order.
In this economy getting those items is not always easy, but Boise Police Officers were on hand Saturday to help some less fortunate families.
Every year, the Boise Police Department teams up with K-Mart and other members of the community to give less fortunate children some supplies for the upcoming school year.
"It's just a great opportunity to be out here with the kids and to help them out," said Officer Josh Coltrin.
From clothes to pencils to backpacks, the kids were getting what they needed for the school year.
"I think it's awesome,” said Sarah Trefry, whose daughter got the chance to shop with an officer. “I think it gives parents out there that can't afford their stuff for their kids, I think it's a great opportunity for them. I think it's a great opportunity for them, and I just think it's really awesome."
Sixty kids were able to shop with a cop Saturday and somewhere between 40 and 60 more families who couldn't make it out will get gift cards to buy their supplies.
"The community really supports this effort,” said Detective Bill Smith. “We wouldn't be able to do any of it if it wasn't for the Boise city community, and the surrounding areas.”
The 'Shop with a Cop' program pairs an officer with a family for the day.
"We get partnered up with people,” said Coltrin. “We're always having a good time, and yeah, it's pretty nice."
Families and officers are given a budget to buy what they need.
"You see a lot of officers up at the front register, they get up there and they've kind of gone over their budget, you see them come out of pocket with money, you see them buying candy bars for the kids,” said Smith. “The officers enjoy this as much as the families do,"
As part of that enjoyment, Smith said many of the officers stay in contact with the children for years to come.
The Boise Police Department uses the Boise City CATCH program to find the families who are in the most need.
