MO State HS Sports

Two nine-year-old mid-Missouri children donate $2,800 for toys for underprivileged children

23 children from across Moniteau County participated in this week’s Shop With a Cop event at the Jefferson City Target (December 19, 2023 photo courtesy of Moniteau County Sheriff Tony Wheatley)

The sheriff in mid-Missouri’s Moniteau County is praising all of the businesses, organizations and citizens who donated to this week’s Shop with a Cop event at the Jefferson City Target.

Sheriff Tony Wheatley tells 939 the Eagle that they raised about $9,500. That includes the $2,800 raised by Tipton nine-year-olds Owen Crane and Ryder Bracht with their annual lemonade stand fundraiser. This is third straight year that Crane and Bracht have been involved in the event with their lemonade stand.

Sheriff Wheatley says the 23 children who participated were selected by each school district in Moniteau County. Sheriff Wheatley’s office then contacts the parents of the selected children and receives permission for them to attend. Moniteau County Shop with a cop helps purchase toys for less fortunate children in several areas, including California, High Point and Latham. Tuesday night’s event began at the Moniteau County Courthouse, where each child was assigned to a law enforcement officer or first responder. Sheriff Wheatley says the children enjoy riding in the patrol cars and playing with the lights and sirens as they drive through town. The children were then taken to Jefferson City’s Target, where they shopped for family members and themselves.

Eight law enforcement agencies participated: Moniteau County Sheriff’s deputies, California Police, Tipton and Jamestown Police, Moniteau County emergency dispatch, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Conservation and the mid-Missouri drug task force.