Lemoore Police Department seeks funds for its annual shoe drive to help local kids

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 - 4:20pm By The Leader Staff

Officer Kevin Cosper accepts a donation from Lemoore Lions Club President Ever Casas.

Photo by Steve Rossi

For the third year in a row the Lemoore Police Department is sponsoring its annual shoe drive to benefit local elementary school students. According to one of the local police organizers, Kevin Cosper, things are going well. Just in the last week Cosper has visited local service clubs and come away with a small pot of money to buy shoes.

Cosper told The Leader that the school districts select the students who may need new shoes and will invited them down to the Lemoore Police Department to pick up the shoes. Cosper expects that distribution to occur in November.

“We put this together three years ago,” said Officer Cosper. He said he contacts the local schools to see if there are students who may need shoes. “The schools select the kids who participate,” he said.

The first year the department received enough in donations to purchase 36 pairs of shoes. Last year officers gave out 63 pairs of shoes. Cosper says he expects to have enough in funds this year to purchase many more pairs of shoes this time around.

This week alone he visited the Lemoore Lions Club and local Rotary Club and came away with about $550. The shoes are purchased locally. The department gets sizes and needs from the local schools where students are selected.

Cosper says that anyone wishing to donate money toward purchase of new shoes, to contact the Lemoore Police Department at 924-957 and ask for Officer Cosper. Checks may be made payable to the City of Lemoore Shoe Drive, 119 Fox St. Lemoore, CA 93245. A tax ID is available upon request.