‘Shop with a Cop’: Boys and Girls Club youngsters rewarded with shopping spree
Published 6:22 am Saturday, October 29, 2022
- Lt. Michael Whitfield and Ahmad get help from an Academy employee Thursday. (Rita LeBleu / American Press)
Those three events culminated in “Shop with a Cop,” at Academy Sports + Outdoors in Lake Charles Thursday afternoon. Academy supplied youngsters with $100 gift cards and all first responders with a 10 percent discount.
Lake Charles Police Officer Cody Wolfe, Lt. Michael Whitfield, Lt. Craig Wright, Sgt. Shawna Aymond, Sgt. Brenda Treadway, Sgt. Willie Fontenot, Sgt. Eddie McCue, Sgt. Robert Janise and Officer Cyanna Dion provided a little help finding what the youngsters wanted most in the 72,000 square-foot store, which in some cases proved a little overwhelming.
“I made all Os (Outstanding) and no Ss (Satisfactory) and all As,” said Josiah Batiste. “I plan to get a lot of crazy stuff.”
Unit Director Nedra Green, Cheniere Energy Club, Boys & Girls Club of Acadiana, said she asked all the kids to bring in report cards, but that’s a routine request.
“They didn’t expect the surprise,” she said.
Green and the other staffers at the club help students during Power Hour and Project Learn, programs developed to help close academic gaps.
Lake Charles Police Chief Shawn Caldwell said, “We’re happy to be invited and always willing to connect with area youth. I am grateful to Academy for this opportunity and congratulate these youngsters on their accomplishments.”
Josiah, Anais, Blayson, and Hayley had a 4.0 GPA, Anatasia, Bryson, Delicia and Ahmad had a 3.5 and Nathan, Levi and Rania had a 3.2, according to Green.
