Du Quoin police serving up a better Christmas for kids

Local, county and state law enforcement officers and first responders will take over 100 Du Quoin-area children on a Christmas shopping trip at WalMart Wednesday.

It's an emergency call that police are glad to respond to--helping dozens of Du Quoin families.

The shopping spree begins at 5 p.m. At the end of the evening police will write a check for between $5,000 and $7,000 to pay for the toys, clothes, personal hygiene items and treats that will be taken to the checkout lanes during the shopping trip.

The funds are raised through the police calendar program, through private and business donations and, this year, through the "We Got It Covered Christmas" dinner theater that was held Friday at the Elks with an encore night Dec. 13 at the American Legion.

Friday's dinner and live performance by Keenan Rice's band "We Got It Covered" raised $1,470. Eighty-five guests attended. Police are hoping for 200 on Dec. 13.

WalMart has already donated $1,000 to the "Shop With a Cop" fund and associates will fill the store Wednesday helping police and families find what they are looking for.

It is one of the most selfless projects of the holiday season.

If you want to make a cash donation to the project mail it or drop it by the department : Du Quoin Police Department, 304 East Poplar Street, Du Quoin, IL 62832.