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Tribal Families Celebrate the Season,
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Tribal Christmas Party
Photos by Mychal Leno
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Shop with the Sheriff Program Puts Smiles on Children's Faces
By Justin Phillips
The Shop with Sheriff program is five years old. What
better way to start and end the fifth year as the best
year. On Saturday, December 16, Polk County
Sheriffs deputies spent the morning with 25 children
from Grand Ronde Elementary School (GRES).
The children had to earn the trip to Wal-Mart by
collecting Coyote Bucks at school. The students earned
the bucks by getting their homework done, staying on
task and exhibiting good behavior in school. The cost
of the trip was 5 coyote bucks for the students. ,
"It gives the children an incentive that they have to
earn the trip rather than them just getting chose to
go," said Polk County Sheriffs Sergeant JeffV anLaanen.
The funds are raised year-round through the Polk
County Sheriffs office, Polk County Service Integra
tion Team and Polk County Juvenile Department.
"This year we must have had thirty to forty officers
turn out for the program," said VanLaanen. "This is
the best year we have ever had for officer turnout."
Each individual child had an average of $25-$30 to
spend.
"They can only spend the money on their family,"
said VanLaanen. "I've never had a child ask for any
thing for themselves. They are just proud to put some
thing under the tree, for mom, dad, brothers or sis
ters." The Tribe traditionally volunteers and assists in the
transportation for the children to and from Wal-Mart.
Tribal Council members Ed Larsen, Reyn Leno and
Elder's Van Driver Dick Zimbrick drove the children.
Zimbrick was asked at the last minute and said he
would do anything for the children.
"I thank the Tribe for the use of the vans," said
Larsen.
"I can't thank Wal-Mart enough for giving us a dis
count for the children, sometimes they provide wrap
ping paper for the gifts, and they provide Santa with
cookies and juice every year," said VanLaanen.
There have been times when a child that the officer
is assisting needs a coat or shoes and the officer uses
his own money to buy for them.
The students then are taken back to school where
they wrap the gifts with help from the officers, teach
ers and the juvenile department before they take the
presents home.
Also that day, Sheriff Bob Wolf and members of the
Polk County Sheriffs Office distributed hundreds of
donated toys and gifts to families in Polk, Yamhill and
Marion Counties.
Each year, donated toys and gifts are collected by
the Polk County Sheriffs Office S.A.L.T. (Seniors and
Law Enforcement Together) Unit. The SALT. Unit
then sorts, wraps and assigns the gifts to area fami
lies who have been nominated by area schools.
"Everything went really well this year," said
VanLaanen. "Not to mention that with that many
officers in the store, shoplifting in Wal-Mart that morn
ing goes down."
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Photos by Justin Phillips
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